A challenger to incumbent William S. Hart School Governing Board Member Joe Messina has announced her intent to run against him in November.

Santa Clarita resident Kelly Trunkey has announced that she plans to run against Messina for the William S. Hart School Governing Board in November.

“I am running to bring a much-needed fresh perspective to the Hart board,” Trunkey said in a press release. “As a parent of a current student in the district, I’m acutely aware of the new realities facing our students and teachers every day. From safety and security to diversity and inclusion, our students deserve to be represented by a trustee that accepts them as they are, and embraces inclusion and diversity.”

Trunkey said she would proactively seek student, parent and staff input for solutions that will help students feel supported and safe at school.

She is set to run against Messina, one of three William S. Hart trustees up for reelection this year.

During Messina’s last election in 2013, the candidate ran unopposed for the board seat he currently holds. He now seeks to reclaim a third term as a sitting board member.

“Mr. Messina has worked diligently to get an advocate for all children throughout the Hart District to ensure that those kids usually overlooked are given every opportunity to succeed and find their future path,” reads a statement from Messina’s re-election announcement. “Having raised children in the Santa Clarita Valley, and now aiding in the care of his grandchildren, Joe Messina understands and realizes the challenges that parents face on a daily basis to create safe, nurturing and consistent environments for every child.”

Messina said that his campaign will focus on the the Castaic High project, which has been an endeavor met with a series of challenges since its inception and early stages of construction.

The governing board is divided into five individual districts with each district having its own trustee on the board. Messina represents area No. 5, a jurisdiction that covers most of the Saugus area of Santa Clarita.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.