Two Hopewell Borough residents have launched a write-in campaign for the two available seats on Hopewell Borough Council, after borough council members Debra Lehman and Shelby Tewell opted not to seek re-election.
Lehman is a Democrat and Tewell is a Republican.
Since there was not enough time to file to be listed on the June 5 primary election ballot on the Democratic Party ticket, Deb Stuhler and Samara McAuliffe are conducting a writ-in campaign for the nominations.
The June 5 primary election ballot does not list any candidates for the two borough council seats because no one had turned in a nominating petition by the filing deadline.
Hopewell Borough Council President Schuyler Morehouse, who is a Republican, said that no one had stepped forward to run for borough council on the Republican Party ticket.
“We have learned that if there is a Democratic candidate, there simply is no point in running. Fortunately, we are a close-knit group [on borough council] and party politics plays a small part in the decisions we make,” Morehouse said.
Mayor Paul Anzano, who is a Democrat, said that when he learned that no one had filed for the two Borough Council seats, he spoke to other Democrats in Hopewell Borough.
“We spoke about who may be interested, who has the experience and who has the background in the borough. We identified two people – Deb Stuhler and Samara McAuliffe – who were interested in serving,” Mayor Anzano said.
“At this late date, the only way to do that is through a write-in campaign. They need 12 write-in votes [to become candidates],” Mayor Anzano said.
McAuliffe grew up in Hopewell Borough and Hopewell Township, and moved back to Hopewell Borouogh in 2004. She is a human resources adviser for a Hopewell Borough advisory firm.
McAuliffe has also volunteered in many capacities. She was the secretary to the Hopewell Harvest Fair board in 2011 and 2016, and now serves on the leadership team for Mercer County Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.
She also served as the Hopewell Borough Democratic Municipal chair from 2012 to 2014, and as the treasurer of the Hopewell Valley Democratic Club – a post from which she has stepped down to run for Borough Council.
“I grew up in the Hopewell Valley and I am lucky to be raising my son and daughter here,” McAuliffe said. “With a few breaks here and there, Hopewell has always been my home.’
“My children and this community are my priority. I can’t think of a better place to raise my family, so keeping Hopewell Borough safe, welcoming and affordable for them and all my neighbors is why I am seeking a place on the ballot,” she said.
Stuhler has lived in Hopewell Borough since 2002. She is a project manager at Merrill Lynch/Bank of America, where she has worked for the past 20 years.
Stuhler volunteered with the Hopewell Harvest Fair, and served as the board president for four years.
She also chaired the celebrations marking the 125th anniversary of Hopewell Borough. She has served on the Hopewell Valley Education Foundation.
Along with other volunteers, Stuhler started the Hopewell Block Party in 2006, which is an annual community gathering that helps to strengthen relationships within Hopewell Borough.
“Samara and I both love this town. This community has been a wonderful place to live, make friends and watch our children grow,” Stuhler said.
“We want to make our town an even better place to live, raise our families and continue Hopewell’s tradition of being a welcoming, nurturing and walkable town,” she said.