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Katherine Payne elected Hillsboro mayor; Sha Leani chosen deputy mayor
Summary
At the Hillsboro Township 2026 reorganization meeting on Jan. 6, committee members elected Katherine Payne as mayor and Sha (Sha/Sean) Leani as deputy mayor; newly elected committeewoman Jill Gomez was sworn in. Officials highlighted Route 206, open-space preservation, public safety and fiscal transparency as top priorities.
Katherine Payne was elected mayor of Hillsboro Township at the committee's Jan. 6, 2026, reorganization meeting and was sworn in by former mayor Gloria McCaulay Cartmill.
The committee nominated Payne, called for a roll call and voted unanimously to install her as mayor for 2026. Following her oath, Payne told attendees she would focus on internal process improvements and stronger coordination with Somerset County: "I am your mayor, your voice, and that voice is unwavering as it speaks for all affiliations, parties, and beliefs," said Mayor Katherine Payne.
Earlier in the evening the clerk announced the certified election results for the Nov. 4, 2025 general election and Swore in Jill Gomez to a three-year township committee term. "I am deeply honored and humbled to stand before you as your newly elected committeewoman," Jill Gomez said after taking her oath.
Committee members also nominated and unanimously elected Sha Leani to serve as deputy mayor; Leani took the oath with family present and briefly thanked volunteers and staff.
Speakers used their remarks to lay out 2026 priorities. Committeeman Brading urged continued pressure on the state to complete Route 206 and stressed public-safety support, saying support for the police "will always be... one of the number one important things" for the town. Deputy Mayor Leani highlighted land-preservation work, noting the township is "about 41% preserved" and that an additional roughly 450 acres could be added to conservation holdings.
Mayor Payne said she will streamline meetings, provide monthly department feedback to liaisons, and press for completion of DPW and police building repairs. "I will continue to partner with the DOT to move Route 206 forward to completion," she said.
The committee concluded the reorganization items and moved on to the evening's consent agenda before opening the floor to public comment.
