Election season is taking shape across Hopewell Valley, with a late change to the Hopewell Township Committee race, an independent candidate creating a contested race in Hopewell Borough and a crowded field emerging for a proposed commission that could study Hopewell Township’s form of government.
The most significant change comes in Hopewell Township, where longtime Township Committee member Kevin Kuchinski will not seek another term despite winning the Democratic primary in June.
Kuchinski and fellow Committee member Michael Ruger won the Democratic nominations for two seats on the governing body, but Kuchinski withdrew his candidacy Aug. 17. The Hopewell Township Democratic Committee subsequently selected Sophie Purgavie to replace him on the November ballot.
Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello told MercerMe that state law allows a municipal party committee to replace a primary winner who withdraws within the required timeframe.
“They met that requirement because he resigned within the proper statutory timeframe to withdraw his candidacy,” Sollami Covello said.
After the withdrawal, she explained, the municipal Democratic committee was required to meet and select a replacement candidate within the statutory deadline. The committee selected Purgavie this week, who will run alongside Ruger.
The county’s candidate list, last updated Aug. 17, still shows Kuchinski as withdrawn and had not yet been updated to include Purgavie. Sollami Covello said ballots must be finalized by Aug. 31. Purgavie is expected to be on the ballot when finalized.
At this time, Kuchinski has not commented publicly on his decision to step down.
Purgavie, a member of the Hopewell Township Zoning Board of Adjustment and a trustee of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail, grew up in Hopewell Township and attended Bear Tavern Elementary School, Timberlane Middle School and Hopewell Valley Central High School.
In a letter to the editor submitted to MercerMe, Purgavie thanked Kuchinski for his 12 years of service and said she hopes to build on his work while bringing a new perspective to the governing body.
Ruger, who is seeking reelection, has served as both mayor and deputy mayor. In his own letter to the editor, Ruger pointed to the Township’s finances, economic development, municipal services and management of growth among the issues on which he is seeking another term. He called Purgavie a candidate who would bring “a new voice and a new perspective” to the Township Committee.
The Republican ticket also changed following the June primary.
John Hart was the only Republican Township Committee candidate listed on the primary ballot, but Steven Niederer received enough write-in votes to qualify for the second Republican nomination. Both Hart and Niederer are now listed by Mercer County as general election candidates, setting up a four-candidate race for two Township Committee seats.
Hopewell Borough Council race becomes contested
Hopewell Borough voters will also have a contested municipal race this fall after independent candidate James Higgins qualified for the November ballot.
Democrats Justine Levine and Sheri Hook are running for the two available three-year Borough Council seats, while Higgins will appear on the ballot under the slogan “Putting Hopewell First.” No Republican candidates are listed in the race.
Higgins, a Borough resident for the past 12 years, said in announcing his candidacy that his campaign will focus on responsible development, affordable housing, government transparency, fiscal responsibility, community engagement and support for local businesses.
He pointed to the Hopewell 57 redevelopment project and the Borough’s water system referendum as issues that helped draw him more deeply into local government.
“I never imagined that I would run for public office,” Higgins said. “Like many residents, I kept saying someone needed to step forward. Eventually, I realized that maybe that someone should be me.”
His candidacy gives Borough voters three candidates from which to choose two council members.
Charter commission candidates still being finalized
Beyond the Township Committee race, Hopewell Township voters will face another consequential local choice this November.
The ballot will ask whether the Township should establish a five-member Charter Study Commission to examine its current form of government. If the question passes, voters will also elect the five residents who would serve on that commission.
The full field of candidates was still being finalized as of Thursday.
Township Clerk Kathy Fenton-Newman told MercerMe that she was still completing the certification process and had 10 prospective candidates who had submitted more than the required number of petition signatures.
“I so far have ten candidates,” Fenton-Newman said. While the final certification process remained underway, she said the candidates appeared to have enough valid signatures to qualify.
Five candidates — Chad Goerner, Stephen Klopfer, Michael Markulec, Tamera Matteo and Vanessa Sandom — have been certified and are running together as part of the Chart New Course group. In a letter to the editor submitted to MercerMe, the group said it supports creation of the commission and wants a public examination of whether the Township’s existing governmental structure continues to meet the community’s needs.
The identities of the remaining prospective candidates were not yet available Thursday.
Fenton-Newman said she plans to hold the drawing for ballot positions at 4:30 p.m. Friday at the municipal building and then forward the candidates to Mercer County.
Five commissioners would be elected if voters approve creation of the commission. The commission would then study the Township’s government and could ultimately recommend changes, which would require a subsequent voter referendum.
Pennington Council race uncontested
The municipal ballot is quieter in Pennington Borough.
Democrats Catherine “Kit” Chandler and John J. Valenza II are the only candidates listed for two three-year Borough Council seats, leaving both candidates unopposed in November.
The Pennington Borough Fire District race is also uncontested, with Ross Dodd and Scott T. Schaub running for two three-year seats.
Four HVRSD school board seats on the ballot
Four Hopewell Valley Regional School District Board of Education seats will be decided this fall, although none of the races is contested.
Luis Martinez, John Slotman and Pamela Lilleston are the three candidates for three available three-year seats representing Hopewell Township.
William Keithler is the sole candidate for a two-year unexpired Hopewell Township term.
That seat was previously held by Hope Cotter, who stepped down from the Board earlier this year after moving from Hopewell Township to Hopewell Borough. The Board of Education is expected to appoint someone in September to temporarily fill the vacancy, with the winner of the November election filling the remainder of the term.
There are no Board of Education seats representing Hopewell Borough or Pennington Borough on this year’s ballot.
Midterm elections extend beyond the local races
While many of the changes taking shape are at the municipal level, the Nov. 3 election is also a federal midterm election.
Hopewell Valley voters in the 12th Congressional District will choose among Democrat Adam Hamawy, Republican Gregg Mele, Winston Jordan running under the “Get Money Out” designation and Green Party candidate Andres Jinete.
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker is also seeking another six-year term. The Democratic incumbent will face Republican Justin Murphy, along with Veronica Fernandez running under the “End the Corruption!” designation and Socialist Workers Party candidate Joanne Kuniansky.
Mercer County voters will also choose candidates for sheriff, surrogate and two seats on the Board of County Commissioners.
Election season gets underway
The remaining pieces of the ballot will be settled quickly.
Sollami Covello said Mercer County ballots must be finalized by Aug. 31. The county then sends them to the printer while election officials begin the testing and programming necessary for voting.
Mail-in ballots are required to begin going out by Sept. 19, she said.
Early voting begins Oct. 24, with Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
