Home » Hopewell Township Mayor Kuchinski Seeks 15th District New Jersey Assembly Seat

Hopewell Township Mayor Kuchinski Seeks 15th District New Jersey Assembly Seat

by Mary Galioto

Hopewell Township’s mayor, Kevin Kuchinski, announced today his candidacy for the 15th District New Jersey Assembly seat vacated by Reed Gusciora, who was recently elected as mayor of Trenton. Below you will find a short bio as well as his own campaign announcement.

Kuchinski has more than 25 years of leadership experience in the corporate, governmental, and non-profit worlds. He has served on the Hopewell Township Committee since 2015, and has served as mayor from 2016 to present, during which time has had made improved changes in taxes as well as served as an advocate for the environment, being at the forefront of the fight against the PennEast pipeline since it was first proposed in 2014. His work includes preserving significant parcels of open space and farmland across the Township, leading the transition to renewable energy with the Township winning NJ’s Solar Challenge. Kuchinski has also championing the expansion of outdoor recreation opportunities like the Lawrence Hopewell Trail

Kuchinski is president of the Hopewell Valley Education Foundation, which works to support educational excellence in Hopewell Valley public schools. Additionally, he serves on the co-chair of the Advisory Board for the Watershed Institute, one of central New Jersey’s leading environmental organizations, and is Chair of the Finance Council at St. James Church.

On the professional side, Kuchinski most recently was Vice President of Marketing at Church & Dwight, working on iconic American brands such as ARM & HAMMER™ and OxiClean™.  Prior to this, he worked at Procter & Gamble, with assignments in the US and Belgium, including the global launch of Swiffer. In 2000, he was recognized by Advertising Ageas one of the Top 100 Marketers of the Year for his leadership of this launch.

He is currently a partner at Sourland Mountain Spirits, a new farm-based craft distillery in NJ, and works at a consulting practice focused on brand strategy and innovation.

Kevin received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Duke University. He is a long-time Hopewell Valley resident, along with his wife, Leslie, and four children.

 

“Progressive Values. Proven Leadership. Fighting for You.”

New Jersey and our values are under attack, and we need to fight back.  Over eight years, the Christie administration worked to undermine our pension system and the public safety net; he weakened laws protecting our water and the environment; he stood by while Trump penalized progressive states like New Jersey by limiting state and local tax deductions.

Enough.

New Jersey needs a new generation of strong progressive leaders who will fight for Main Street, not Wall Street; leaders who will strengthen protections for our water and the environment; leaders who will ensure our minimum wage is a living wage and demand equal pay for equal work. That’s why today I am announcing my candidacy for the 15th District NJ Assembly seat.

Over the weeks ahead, I will be sharing my full platform, including how we can accelerate economic growth in Central New Jersey, but in the interim, here’s a snapshot of what we have already achieved in Hopewell Township, under my leadership as Mayor:

  • We rejected the anti-immigrant policies of the president, making Hopewell Township a Fair and Welcoming Community;
  • We strengthened environmental protections, preserved open space, led the fight against PennEast, and the transition to renewable energy, winning NJ’s Solar Challenge;
  • We advocated for common-sense gun reforms;
  • We called for transparency in campaign financing and draining the dark money swamp;
  • We expanded services to our residents, while delivering a fiscally responsible 2018 Township budget BELOW 2015 spending levels.

As a Mayor, I understand first-hand the issues facing residents in Mercer and Hunterdon Counties. I have been on the front lines of these battles.  I learned from Senator Turner the importance of focusing on resident’s everyday needs and listening to their concerns.

As an individual, I bring a strong work ethic. My grandparents were coal miners, seamstresses and autoworkers. They understood the value of a day’s work and passed that onto me. I also learned from them how the unions they belonged to made sure they were treated fairly.

I come from a family of strong, smart, supportive women and have been described as someone who listens to all voices and perspectives. I will work tirelessly on behalf of all of the residents of the 15th District to take on the important issues and make progress, to build coalitions that move New Jersey forward, and to be a staunch advocate at the Statehouse.

Our District has a long history of strong representation and innovative leadership, most recently with Reed Gusciora.  Reed led the charge to bring fairness back to New Jersey, including a major victory on gay marriage several years ago. My goal is to build on Reed’s accomplishments in the Fighting 15th.

In this environment, it’s not enough to mean well or to have progressive ideals. The Fighting 15thneeds an experienced and resourceful leader who will put the needs of the people ahead of special interests; a leader who will fight to end gun violence and make our streets safer; a leader who believes that defending our water and the environment while growing the economy and creating jobs is not an either/or choice, but rather something we must achievetogether.

I have progressive Democratic values, am a tenacious advocate, and will bring an independent voice to the legislature. I’m also a solutions-oriented and a creative problem solver who always finds a way forward. More importantly—I’m a proven leader who has delivered results.

I intend to fight vigorously for every vote in the 15th District, reaching out to members of the Democratic County Committee and sharing my vision for moving New Jersey forward. I look forward to what we can accomplish together.

Kevin D. Kuchinski

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