Trenton School Board Unexpectedly Appoints New Member at Meeting

Trenton Board of Education members surprised the audience when they unexpectedly appointed a new board trustee at Monday's board of education meeting.

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David French became the newest member of the board, with a unanimous vote from all six other board members.

French, 53, has lived in Trenton for over 35 years, graduated from Trenton High School and serves as his class reunion committee president. He works as the IT services manager for I*LOGIC, a Tier One Automotive Supplier of Program Management.

"I didn't know," French said. "I came to the meeting and anticipated they would have questions for me during an interview process."

Trenton officials received several applications for an open position left by , and were set to discuss the applicants at the meeting. Discussion of applicants and interviews were listed in the meeting's agenda, but board members decided to forgo the interview process and appoint French.

"I believe that the people have spoken," Trustee Carol Oakley said. "I believe that we should appoint the person that elected to run for the board and garnered such great support from the community."

French recently ran and lost in a very close race for two open positions on the board, which became available after two current members reached the end of their terms.

French received 3,866 votes. He lost to Wayne Sieloff (4,012) and Sean Gearhart (4,304).

"I'm very honored to be given this opportunity and I hope to do well by the community," French said.