With three candidates competing for two seats on Hopewell Borough Council in the Nov. 3 election, residents will have an opportunity to hear from all three during a community-organized candidate forum Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Old Baptist Meeting House.
The event, scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. at 46-48 W. Broad St., will feature candidates James Higgins, Sheri Hook and Justine Levine. Residents will be able to hear candidates discuss local issues and submit their own questions.
Hopewell Borough resident Mark Peters organized the event and will serve as moderator. Peters, who is personally funding the gathering, said he wanted to create an opportunity for neighbors to engage directly with candidates in a setting that encourages civil discussion.
The forum is not sponsored by any political party, candidate or organization.
Peters said the idea grew out of concerns about increasingly contentious discussions surrounding issues facing Hopewell Borough, including development and local government decisions.
“The way that you always deal with that is you allow for conversation to happen in the open, rather than it be delegated to a Facebook post, text messages, individual conversations,” Peters said.
He reached out to the three candidates, all of whom agreed to participate, and arranged to hold the forum at the historic Old Baptist Meeting House.
Peters said he is covering the costs himself, including the $300 rental fee for the building and expenses for refreshments and materials.
His goal, he said, is to encourage residents to consider candidates’ ideas and approaches to local issues rather than focusing primarily on political affiliations.
“To me, this event will allow for ideas to trump politics versus politics trumping ideas,” Peters said.
Local issues and questions from residents
The evening will begin with an opportunity for residents to meet the candidates informally at 7 p.m., followed by opening statements at 7:20 p.m.
Candidates will then answer six prepared questions addressing issues facing the borough, including growth and the Hopewell 57 redevelopment project, taxes and the project’s payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement, downtown business vitality, pedestrian and traffic safety, civility in local government and cooperation with neighboring municipalities and the school district.
The forum will also include a 30-minute audience question-and-answer session beginning at approximately 8:15 p.m. Residents can submit questions on index cards during the event, and each candidate will have an opportunity to respond.
Under the published ground rules, each candidate will receive equal time to answer questions, with speaking order rotating throughout the evening. Candidates will also be allowed a brief opportunity for clarification during each question.
All three candidates received the same prepared questions and event rules in advance.
Peters said sharing the format and questions ahead of time is intended to make the process transparent and allow candidates to prepare thoughtful responses.
“The number one thing I want to accomplish is us to have candidates talking about the issues that are most important to the residents, and only the issues that are most important to the residents,” he said.
The event will conclude with closing statements from each candidate.
A chance to hear candidates in person
Peters said he hopes the forum will provide an opportunity for residents to move beyond political labels and better understand how each candidate would approach the responsibilities of borough government.
He emphasized that local officials make decisions affecting municipal finances, public services and community policies that may have little connection to national political debates.
For Peters, the forum is also an opportunity to see whether residents are interested in more direct, issue-focused conversations about local government.
The event is free and open to all residents. Light refreshments will be provided.
Event details: Wednesday, Oct. 28, 7-9 p.m., Old Baptist Meeting House, 46-48 W. Broad St., Hopewell Borough. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the formal program beginning at 7:15 p.m.
Editor’s note: Mark Peters is an elected member of the Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education. He is organizing and funding this event as a private citizen and Hopewell Borough resident, not in his capacity as a school board member. The forum is not affiliated with or sponsored by the Hopewell Valley Regional School District or Board of Education.
