Election 2008
By Ruth Luse, Managing Editor
Who are the candidates for seats on the Valley’s three local municipal governing bodies?
HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE — Four are running for two seats (three-year terms). They are:
— Matthew Holley (Republican), of Reservoir Road, was born in rural South Carolina in 1968 but spent most of his childhood in Appalachian Tennessee, rural North Carolina and Canandaigua, N.Y.
He has spent his entire professional career in the private sector providing counsel and guidance to senior leaders of major pharmaceutical, medical device, and automotive companies on employee relations matters. He is working on organizational change efforts with a large media company. His expertise and experience include the creation and execution of leadership development initiatives, succession planning, labor contracts, labor and employee relations, policy creation and enforcement, regulatory compliance as well as strategic reorganization and expansion initiatives with companies such as Merck, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Boston Scientific. A member of the Princeton area musical arts community, most notably as a performing member of Princeton Pro Musica, he also has served as an Advisory Board member of the Rutgers’ Pharmaceutical Management Masters Program. While at Merck, he served as a liaison and representative on initiatives with the American Heart Association, Girl’s Inc. and Boys Clubs of America. He has been a resident of Hopewell Valley since 2004 and resides with his wife, Brigita, and daughter, Helena.
— Eileen McGinnis (Republican), of Harbourton-Woodsville Road, is the senior vice president of The Whitman Strategy Group, a consulting firm specializing in environmental, energy and sustainability issues. The firm has offices in Princeton and Washington, D.C. She has held top policy, regulatory and management positions in state and federal governments for over two decades. Her experience involves developing solutions to complex public policy problems. Her expertise is in areas of public policy, including the environment, energy, and sustainability. As chief of staff to the administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), she provided advice and counsel on policy and regulatory issues facing the agency. She also managed the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, Office of Public Affairs and Communication, and the Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation. In addition, she served in Gov. Christie Whitman’s Cabinet as chief of policy and was responsible for the government operations of 16 departments. She was responsible for the design and implementation of the state’s million-acre land preservation program; served as director of NY/NJ Dredging Task Force, and managed the implementation of a federal-state program to expand health insurance. She also oversaw the development of the state’s first Quality of Life Report. In 2004, she completed a mid-career program designed for leaders in public service at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and conducted research on climate change programs in the public and private sectors. Since leaving public service, she has taught at Columbia, Rutgers and The College of New Jersey. A resident of Hopewell Valley since 1990, she resides with her husband, Michael Laracy. They have two daughters, Sean and Charlotte.
—John Murphy (incumbent Democrat), of New Road, is serving as deputy mayor. He has served on the Hopewell Township Committee since 2006. Prior to being elected to the committee, he served on the Planning Board from 2003-2005. As a member of the committee, he has served as liaison to the Recreation Advisory Committee, Public Works and Interlocal Affairs. He also has served on the Bear Tavern Elementary School Parent-Faculty Advisory Committee since 2003. An attorney and insurance professional with over 23 years of experience in the corporate and governmental sectors, he possesses particular expertise in change management, regulatory compliance and litigation management. He and his wife, Jennifer, moved to Hopewell Township 10 years ago. They have two children, Caelin, 10, and Riley, 7, who attend Bear Tavern Elementary School. The Murphys are involved in local volunteer efforts including the Sunshine Foundation, HomeFront and selling Girl Scout cookies.
— Vanessa Sandom (incumbent Democrat), of Harbourton Ridge Drive, has been a member of the Hopewell Township Committee since 2001, and has served as mayor in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Her career experience includes 15 years as an executive with Fortune 100 companies including General Electric, Johnson & Johnson and Travelers Insurance. She received a bachelor’s degree with honors in philosophy from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree in public and private management from Yale University. She and her husband Carl have lived in the township for over 20 years, and they have two sons.
PENNINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL — Four are running for two seats (three-year terms). They are:
— Mark Blackwell (Republican), of North Main Street, was born in 1956 to Tom and Carol Blackwell, while living on Curlis Avenue. He then moved to Oak Street while attending Hopewell Valley schools through ninth grade. After moving to Main Street, he applied to and was accepted to The Pennington School, from which he received a diploma in 1974. He resides with his wife Joan Ann and their pets, Samantha (dog) and Checkers (bird). He volunteers for and is a Life Member of the Pennington Fire Company (over 25 years). He is a member of the Pennington Planning Board, has been a member of the Pennington Board of Fire Commissioners for over 10 years and is the board’s chairman. He owns Metal Fab Pro Race Shop, Pennington Furnace Supply and Blackwell’s Garage. He enjoys golf, racing and football.
— Glen E. Griffiths (incumbent Democrat), of Baldwin Street, spent 20 years in corporate America at Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson, where he was vice president, Strategic Communication. He later moved to Publicis Healthcare Communications, the largest healthcare communications company in the world, started two businesses and is now president of Patient Relationship Marketing, a healthcare communications and patient support organization. His career has focused on listening to customers and patients and meeting their needs by leading organizations with innovative, forward-thinking vision. He has lived in Pennington for 10 years and enjoys gardening, carpentry and golf.
— Stewart Schwab (Republican), of South Main Street, is the son of Dot and Bill Schwab and grew up on Federal City Road in Hopewell Township. He attended Hopewell Valley schools and graduated from HoVal in 1980. He then joined the military, serving at Fort Knox. He served in the NJ National Guard for 20 years while working for Hopewell Township municipal government. He has received various certifications and attained college credits at local and state universities. His volunteer efforts and memberships include: Pennington Fire Company (30 years, during which he held various positions including chief), Pennington Presbyterian Church, Pennington Planning and Zoning board; Pennington Board of Fire Commissioners (elected to three terms and has served as chairman), Appalachian Trail Association, friend to the Pennington Borough Parks & Recreation Commission, annual Memorial Day Parade supporter, and Rangeley Snow Mobile Club. He is married to Emily (VanDyke). They have two sons and three labs.
— Edwin Weed Tucker (incumbent Democrat), of Woolsey Court, is seeking his third term on council. A former mayor and two-term Pennington Borough Council member, he has lived in Pennington for about 50 years. Now retired, he has been a fundraising consultant and grant writer with The Canon Group and Edwin W. Tucker & Associates and director of Corporations and Foundations/Corporate Communications for The Lawrenceville School’s $132 million capital campaign. He was executive secretary and general manager of the New Jersey Press Association and secretary of the New Jersey Press Foundation directing daily operations while also serving as lobbyist and chief spokesman for the statewide newspaper trade association. He rose through the ranks from reporter to second in command as assistant general manager, business manager, and associate editor of The Princeton Packet, Inc. He also was an adjunct instructor in journalism at Rutgers University. After graduation from Hobart College, he served as an Army newspaper editor and as an overseas correspondent with the U.S. Army in Korea. He also is a past president of Newspaper Association Managers, Inc., Pennington Jaycees, and the Hopewell Valley Democratic Club. He is a past director of the National Newspaper Association and is vice president of the Pennington Point Condominium Association, and a current member of the American Society of Association Executives, New Jersey Conference of Mayors, Friends of the Pennington Library, and the Society for the Preservation of English Language and Literature and the New Jersey and National Society of Professional Journalists. He also is a member of Preservation New Jersey and the Hopewell Valley Historical Society. In addition, he also served on the Vestry of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church and co-chaired the Pennington Day Site Planning Committee for two years. He lives in Pennington Point with Beverly, his wife of 50 years. They have a grown son and two grandchildren.
HOPEWELL BOROUGH COUNCIL — Two incumbent Republicans are running unopposed for three-year terms. They are:
— Robert Lewis, of West Broad Street, was raised in Rocky Hill and has lived in the Hopewell area for more than 20 years. He has resided in Hopewell Borough for about 10 years. He has been married for 20y years, has four children and work as a Microsoft Network administrator by day and councilman/drummer by night. He attended Montgomery High School, obtained a bachelor’s degree from Trenton State College (College of New Jersey) and has completed various Microsoft certificates
— Schuyler Morehouse, of East Prospect Street, is owner and principal, Morehouse Engineering, Inc. An engineer, he received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of Hopewell Borough Council, and the Board of Commissioners (Emergency Medical and Fire). He also is a representative to the Stony Brook Regional Sewerage Authority, is a member and co-chairman of the Ad Hoc Referendum Committee (Hopewell Valley Regional School District), and council representative to the Board of Health. He enjoys scuba diving, competitive target shooting and studying history. He has been a Hopewell resident since 1986. He operates his engineering business from an office on Railroad Place.

