HOPEWELL VALLEY: Township has school board races

Four for two seats in township; now just one for one in Pennington

By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
   After 4 p.m. March 2, three Hopewell Township residents and two Pennington residents had filed nominating petitions as candidates for seats on the Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education.
   There are two open seats in the township and one in Pennington.
   However, things changed just before the 4 p.m. March 4 deadline extension, ordered by Gov. Jon S. Corzine March 3, because of the March 2 snowstorm. A fourth township resident filed.
   ”We had another resident pick up an application packet today, so we just may have one more filing by the deadline tomorrow,” JoAnn Meyer, district spokeswoman, said March 3, in anticipation of the fourth filing.
  In Pennington, as of March 10 (today),  incumbent Daniel J. O’Connor, of East Welling Avenue, is the sole candidate. Diane Potorski, of Sked Street, who filed March 2, withdrew from the race today (Tuesday).
   Two of the township’s nine seats on the board will be contested April 21.  Like Pennington, Hopewell Borough holds one seat, which is not involved in this year’s election. The regional district was formed in 1965.
   The four township candidates are Laura Desai, of Federal City Road, who filed March 4; Brian McHugh, of Masters Way, who filed Feb. 1l; incumbent Leigh Ann Peterson, of Maple Lane, who filed Feb. 25; and Lisa Wolff, of West Shore Drive, who filed March 2. One of the seats to be filled is now held by Jeffrey Bartolino, who is not seeking re-election.