Township’s open space tax rate increase OK’d
By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
Riding in on Tuesday’s wave that will put Democrat Barack Obama in the White House, come January, were local incumbent Democrats running for governing body seats in Hopewell Township and Pennington Borough.
— Vanessa Sandom and John Murphy were re-elected Tuesday to three-year terms on the Hopewell Township Committee, handily defeating their Republican challengers. With 72 percent of the township’s registered voters casting ballots, Ms. Sandom received 4,703 votes. Mr. Murphy had 4,546. On the GOP side, Eileen McGinnis had 3,833 votes. Matthew Holley had 3,472. The results maintain the 3-2 Democratic majority on the Township Committee. In the last presidential election in 2004, 78.6 percent of registered voters went to the polls.
— Despite adverse economic times, township voters also delivered solid approval of a 1-cent per $100 of assessed valuation increase in the municipal open space tax rate. A ballot question received 4,385 yes votes to 3,601 no votes. The money will be spent on acquisition of land for conservation purposes, for farmland acquisition for farmland preservation purposes, for acquisition or preservation of historic properties, structures, facilities, areas or objects, for maintenance of lands acquired for conservation, or for payment of debt service on indebtedness issued or incurred by the township.
— Borough Council incumbents achieved victory by wide margins in Pennington, which like the township had a 72 percent voter turnout. Democrat Edwin Weed Tucker led the field with 900 votes. Democrat Glen Griffiths had 822. Republican challengers Stewart Schwab and Mark Blackwell had 541 and 492 votes respectively. The results kept the six-seat Borough Council all-Democratic. The mayor, Tony Persichilli, also is a Democrat. Messrs. Tucker and Griffiths were re-elected to full three-year terms. In 2004, 72.3 percent of registered voters cast ballots.
— In Hopewell Borough, which had a 73 percent voter turnout, two Republicans running unopposed were re-elected to three-year terms on Borough Council. Schuyler Morehouse received 583 votes. Robert Lewis had 552. In 2004, 78 percent of registered voters went to the polls.
—In the race for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives (12th District), incumbent Democrat Rush Holt, a Hopewell Township resident, was re-elected to a two-year term by a 2-1 margin in the Valley. From 1989 until his successful congressional campaign in 1998, Rep. Holt was the assistant director of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory at Princeton University. He got 7,312 votes Tuesday to 3,654 for the GOP’s Alan Bateman.
— In the race for U.S. president, Sen. Obama (D) received 6,787 votes in the Valley to 4,045 votes for Republican Sen. John McCain.
— In the race for a U.S. Senate seat (six-year term), incumbent Democrat Frank Lautenberg had 5,652 votes in the Valley. His GOP opponent Dick Zimmer had 5,103.
— In Mercer County races, Democratic sheriff and freeholder candidates won big time. Democratic Sheriff Kevin Larkin had 5,579 votes in the Valley, compared to 4,942 for Republican James McSorely Jr.
In Hopewell Valley, Democratic freeholder candidates Lucy Walter and John Cimino had 6,222 and 6,547 votes respectively. GOP candidate Thomas White polled 4,635.
Daniel Benson, a Democrat elected to complete the last year of an unexpired term on the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders, had 5,420 votes in the Valley. Republican Cindy Randazzo got 4,785 votes in that race.
State ballot questions:
Valley voters said yes to Public Question 1 and no to Public Question 2.
— For the first, the totals were 5,416 to 3,949. The passage of the ballot question means independent authorities must now obtain voter approval to borrow money to finance projects. Previously, only legislative approval was required. Under the new system, exceptions are permitted for borrowing that will be repaid by user fees, such as turnpike tolls, or money that will be repaid by a dedicated revenue source, such as the gas tax.
— For the second, totals were 4,891 to 4,354. The ballot question would have allowed local officials to appoint municipal officials, instead of the governor.
Hopewell Valley’s Project Democracy — Valley students spent time researching candidates’ positions, made posters, wrote speeches and held debates all focused on the presidential election. On Tuesday, student voters turned out with (and without) their parents to vote. Sen. Obama received 1,582 votes compared to Sen. McCain’s 771 votes. A total of 2377 students voted, representing a student voter turnout of 60 percent.
Paul Tkacs’ AP government class at CHS took command of the high school’s activities by conducting a Candidate Forum on Tuesday. Students represented Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain by researching their positions on major issues and presenting them to the remaining student body. Students were able to hear both sides of the issues and vote for the candidate of their choice.
A similar activity was conducted at Timberlane Middle School. Eighth grade students researched candidates and prepared posters, pamphlet, speeches and taped commercials. The results were shared with the sixth and seventh grade classes. The students were able to educate each other based on the research they conducted.
As a result of Project Democracy, students’ interest in voting and the political process has increased. CHS now has active Young Democrat and Young Republican clubs, and last year, Project Democracy registered over 100 high school students.

