The following is Part 1 of letters recently submitted to the editor of MercerMe:
In Support of Ruger and Kuchinski: Good leaders make hard choices
Entering office, “Believe me,” said the man in the White House. Seven years earlier, “I’m full of hope for the future”, said the man soon leaving the New Jersey Statehouse.
Both promised to fix government finances, but neither had a real plan. The federal deficit is $100 billion higher than a year ago and is expected to nearly double. Credit agencies pummeled New Jersey state debt over seven years, reducing our state rating 11 times. Once rated AAA, the gold standard, investors are warned that recently-issued state bonds graded Baa1 “may include speculative characteristics.”
Now, Hopewell Township Republicans want their turn. The Republicans running for Township Committee promise “conservative fiscal principles” and to “make Hopewell affordable for all.” No plan, no specifics, just promises. Echoing the men in the White House and the Statehouse, they make it sound easy.
It is not easy. I served on the Hopewell Township Committee for five years, in the White House Office of Management and Budget for six years, and on a state budget oversight panel for four years.
Local budget decisions are between the things that people need and want, the requirements of federal and state law, and how to pay for it all. Good choices demand careful study, listening to the public, full debate, and tough votes.
Democrats Kevin Kuchinski and Michael Ruger helped Hopewell Township make the hard choices to earn our current AAA debt rating, demonstrating real application of conservative fiscal principles. Both are well-informed and dedicated to the work of public service. On November 7, vote for proven performance over promises. Vote for Kuchinski and Ruger.
David Sandahl, Hopewell Township
YMCA Thanks Community for Support
In April 2015, our community lost an amazing champion for youth sports and healthy living when Tom Jackson of Pennington passed away. Last week our YMCA, along with 136 golfers and nearly 200 total volunteers, donors, sponsors and other “champions,” raised a glass to his memory at the 2nd Annual Hopewell Valley YMCA Tom Jackson Champions Golf Outing. I am so proud to be a part of honoring his legacy and simply blown away by the showing of support for our YMCA’s mission through the Tom Jackson Sports Fund.
Proceeds from the golf outing help our YMCA provide free and low-cost summer camp, sports and Special Olympics programming to area families in need, as well as a college scholarship to a graduating wrestling student at our High School.
Supporting our community is what this YMCA is all about. Whether it’s through our healthy living programs like Safety Town, our CPR, Child Safety and Mental Health First Aid trainings or through the Pennington 5K, our athletic leagues, enrichment programs, Special Olympics teams, or our Hopewell Valley “YAC” Youth Activity Center for teens… we’re there when Hopewell Valley needs us. At our Y, every child has a chance to participate and develop the skills and desires to become a “Champion!”
I want to thank our volunteer committee, our Y’s staff and trustees, our many sponsors including our friends at the Pennington Market, Bank of Princeton, Volvo of Princeton, Archer Law and Glendale Mortgage – and of course the nearly 200 people who came out for the event, and the even more who sent their support in spirit and donated to our cause. The work this Y is doing in our community can’t happen without the support of our community – and boy did we ever see our community’s support last week. Thank you!
Ryan Kennedy, Hopewell Borough
President, Board of Directors, Hopewell Valley YMCA
In Support of Sawicki for HVRSD BOE
Hopewell Township voters could not ask for a more qualified, capable, and sincere individual than Adam Sawicki. We are thrilled that he is running and again willing to serve on the Board of the Hopewell Valley Regional School District.
When we moved into Hopewell Township over 23 years ago, we saw first-hand the positive impact that quality schools have on property values. We live in a blessed community and the schools are a strong component of this community. We have raised a family in Hopewell Valley and now have two children in college.
They have benefited from this community and our public schools. Our children were fortunate to be able to participate in many of the extra-curricular offering as well as a sampling of the AP and honors classes. College admission counselors know the quality of education here and fight to attract our students. This doesn’t come without the hard work of the board, the administration, and the educators in our schools.
Having known Adam Sawicki for many years, we know him to be an intelligent, well-informed person who has and will continue to focus on the best solution for the students, faculty, and taxpayers in the community he serves. It is always a challenge to balance the needs of the entire community and, as a parent, a professional, and a taxpayer, Adam is well suited to meet those challenges.
Please join us in re-electing Adam Sawicki to the Hopewell Valley Regional Schools Board of Education.
Allen and Angie Olsen, Hopewell Township
In Support of Adam J. Sawicki: A candidate we can rely on
It is with great pleasure that I write this letter in support of Adam J. Sawicki Jr. as a candidate for the Hopewell Valley Regional School District Board of Education. I have known Adam for more than a decade. During this time, I have had the opportunity to work alongside Adam in many community and school related activities. I have found Adam to be a man of excellent character who is a wonderful family man and community leader. He genuinely loves the community which he serves, and has spent the past six years as a school board representative making valuable contributions to enhance the educational experiences of our children.
My children have personally benefited from many of the initiatives that Adam was instrumental in helping to develop such as the Performing Arts Magnet Academy, increasing access to honors classes as well as increasing extra-curricular activities at the high school level.
As a father of four children, Adam understands the importance of not only providing our children with the best education possible but also teaching them to become exceptional human beings. As we look ahead to future school projects, Adam’s input will be invaluable as new character and cultural initiatives are introduced into the curriculum.
As a parent of children in district, I feel that it is important to have a representative on the school board who serves as our voice willing to listen to our ideas and concerns and bring them forward to the board. It is important that we all have a voice in shaping our children’s future.
I believe that Adam is a candidate that we can rely on to serve as our collective voice. I hope you will join me in voting for Adam Sawicki for a seat on the Hopewell Valley Regional School District Board of Education.
Donna Costanzo, Hopewell Township
In Support of Ruger and Kuchinski: Campaigns are like job applications
Do the Republican candidates for Hopewell Township Committee even want the position? The question came up as my friends and I compared notes about their performance at Thursday’s debate.
For MercerMe’s coverage of this year’s League of Women Voter’s forum, please visit this link: https://mercerme.com/hopewell-valley-league-of-women-voters-to-host-candidate-forums/.
Mr. Volpe and Mr. Nicolao were completely unprepared for the debate. Given two minutes to respond to questions about taxes, the budget, and development, they ran out of ideas after about forty seconds. They hadn’t looked at any of the issues in detail. Like middle-aged athletes reliving their glory days, they told stories about what they did decades ago without ever speaking knowledgeably about the issues we face in 2017. By the end of the night, Mr. Volpe couldn’t even get his own biography straight!
Campaigns are like job applications where residents get to select who will represent their best interests in the years ahead. Debates are like interviews where we see the applicants up close. I’ve never seen such a half-hearted campaign. Mr. Nicolao and Mr. Volpe seemed like two fraternity brothers who were interviewing for a job to please their parents when they’d rather be playing video games.
Representing 18,000 citizens is hard work. You’ve got to show up every day. Mr. Volpe and Mr. Nicolao don’t want to fight for your votes. What makes you think they’ll fight for your future as members of the Township Committee?
I’m voting for Mayor Kevin Kuchinski and Michael Ruger on November 7. Please join me. They know the issues. They show up.
Jim Moore, Hopewell Township
