The Hopewell Township Democratic Committee has unanimously endorsed incumbent Mayor Kristin McLaughlin and Courtney Peters-Manning for Hopewell Township Committee in the upcoming November 5 election. They will run unopposed in the June 4 primary
Mayor Kristin McLaughlin stated, “We have successfully fought to keep spending under control, do more with less, and keep municipal property taxes low in Hopewell Township. We remain committed to the fight against the proposed PennEast pipeline and to creating new, more affordable housing options for our residents in Hopewell Valley. I am proud of our track record and look forward to working with Courtney to move Hopewell Township forward.”
Courtney Peters-Manning added, “We need to make sure Hopewell Township is protected not just for today, but for the future. Our family moved to Hopewell Valley because of its rural character and strong community, and I am committed to keeping municipal taxes low, protecting the Township from unchecked development, and to preserving our water and the environment.”
Amie Rukenstein, Chair of the Hopewell Township Democratic Committee added, “Kristin has a strong track record serving our community, keeping taxes low and protecting the environment. Courtney is a proven leader in both the small business community and non-profit world and will bring fresh ideas that help create a brighter future for Hopewell Township.” She added, “Kristin and Courtney have strong ties to our community, and together, will fight for policies that respect our past, but embrace the future. It’s not enough to oppose PennEast; we need to push for increased renewable energy production and conservation measures that will put the final nail in PennEast’s coffin.”
“This is an important election year,” Rukenstein noted. “The primary is the first step and I encourage all registered Democrats to vote on June 4. I also encourage anyone who is not yet registered to vote to do so before the November 5 General Election.”
The Hopewell Township Democratic Committee provided bios about the candidates:
Kristin McLaughlin was elected to Hopewell Township Committee in 2016 and has served as liaison to the Senior Advisory Board, Historic Preservation Committee, Youth Advisory Board, Recreation Advisory Board, and as a member of the Planning Board. She is currently serving as Mayor.
Kristin moved to her husband’s beloved hometown, Hopewell Township, in 2008 and quickly understood that it is the community which makes this area special. She began her community involvement here by serving on the Parent Associations of the Chapin School and as President of the Parent Association of the Lawrenceville School. Kristin was raised in a family focused on public service in eastern Kansas. Her great – grandfather served as Governor of Kansas in the early 1900’s and her mother served in the Kansas State Senate from 1985 until 2000. Kristin earned her AB at Harvard College and a Masters Degree in Education from Columbia University. She has been married to her husband, Mike, for 27 years. They have three daughters, Megan (24), Amelia (20), and Carolyn (17).
Courtney Peters-Manning is a community leader, Director of Finance, environmentalist, lawyer, wife, and mother to two boys—Seamus (11) and Conor (8). She is active in the Hopewell Valley community, serving on the Township Planning Board, as a Trustee for the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS), on the Board of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail, and on the Finance Council for St. James Church. She is a steadfast, experienced advocate against the proposed PennEast pipeline, speaking at rallies and testifying in front of the NJ legislature.
Professionally, Courtney’s background is as an environmental lawyer, but she currently is the Director of Finance and General Counsel at the Cambridge School in Pennington, a school her parents founded in 2001 to help children with learning differences. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Brown University and her law degree from the University of Chicago. She has been married to her husband, Tomas, a native of Dublin, Ireland, for fourteen years.
For more information: facebook.com/courtneyandkristin
