Lawrence Councilmen Rick Miller and Mark Holmes have announced that they will run for re-election this November.
Mr. Miller, a Republican, is running for his third four-year term as township councilman. Miller was first elected to council in 1993 with former Councilman Tom Meagher, and was re-elected in 1997 with Mr. Holmes. He also served as mayor of the township in 1995. Mr. Miller unsuccessfully ran for Mercer County Freeholder in 1999 with County Executive Bob Prunetti.
Mr. Miller is a lifelong resident of Lawrence Township and is a graduate of Lawrence High School and Rider University. He is employed as a personal investment professional with Summit Financial Services Group. He is engaged to be married this September to Sharon Lauchaire, also of Lawrence Township.
Mr. Holmes, also a Republican, will be running for his second township council term. Mr. Holmes, a veteran of the Zoning Board, ran for election with Miller in 1997. Mark is currently Township Council’s representative to the Planning Board.
Mr. Holmes also is a lifelong resident of Lawrence Township and a graduate of Lawrence High School and Virginia Union University. The New Jersey Housing Mortgage Finance Agency employs him as a Senior Policy Advisor. He was recently married to Marella McMillon Holmes.
Mr. Miller and Mr. Holmes will be campaigning on issues that matter to the residents of Lawrence Township.
"Preserving the quality of life, while keeping the town affordable to all residents is the most important job that we can do as councilmembers," Mr. Miller was quoted as saying. "Since 1994, the tax rate has stayed stable while increasing services such as adding officers to the police force, preserving open space and attracting additional businesses to the town."
Mr. Miller was instrumental in working with Mercer County to preserve a 66-acre parcel of open space on Princeton Pike in honor of former mayor and councilwoman, Gretel Gatterdam, and in working to preserve Tiffany Woods, Drexel Woods and several farms off Cold Soil Road. In addition, Miller called for an open space enhancement to the tax bill in 1999. This resulted in a referendum question that was passed by the voters of Lawrence Township that November.
He is the current liaison to the Ewing Lawrence Sewage Authority and former member of the Planning Board. He also served as vice chairman of the Township Recreation Advisory Committee.
"The township has undertaken efforts under my guidance to provide grants to low- to moderate-income households to improve their homes," Mr. Holmes added. "Helping improve our neighborhoods keeps our quality of life high and our families strong."
Mr. Holmes will also be directly involved in the redevelopment of reviewing ways to attract business to Alternate Route 1 and making more of a pedestrian-friendly area.
"I am excited to be part of this, not only as a councilman, but also as a Planning Board member," he said. "Rick and I have been champions of this cause and I am glad to help carry it out."