Interesting Development

Yesterday, six days before the vote, former Third Ward alderman Calvin Lewis announced on Instagram and Facebook that he was running as a write-in candidate for a seat on the Hudson City School District Board of Education.

Lewis's write-in candidacy is especially interesting given that in last year's election for city offices some of his more ardent supporters disparaged the write-in candidates who had not made the effort to "do the work" and get petitions signed.  

Also yesterday, Ọṣun Zotique, who announced their write-in campaign last week, published on Instagram this statement of support from Mayor Kamal Johnson: "If anyone has questions about Ọṣun's qualifications to lead on the Hudson CSD Board of Education, I welcome them to reach out to me directly."

Zotique (left) with Mayor Johnson (right) and mayor's aide Michael Hofmann (center) Photo: OutHudson | Facebook 

There are five vacancies on the school board, and there are now, to Gossips' knowledge, six people running for those five seats. Willette Jones, Lakia Walker, Kjirsten Gustavson, and Mark DePace submitted petitions, and their names are on the ballot. Ọṣun Zotique and Calvin Lewis are running as write-in candidates. There may be another candidate who is running a write-in campaign, but Gossips has no information about who that person might be.

The vote on the 2022-2023 HCSD budget and for members of the school board takes place next Tuesday, May 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The polling place for Hudson residents is the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street.

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