Voters OK open space tax increase but nix new recreation tax.
By: John Tredrea
Republicans Judy Niederer and Mark Iorio were elected to the Hopewell Township Committee on Tuesday, easily defeating Democrats Pat Kerins and Kathy Bird, a former township mayor.
Ms. Niederer and Mr. Iorio received 4,472 and 4,454 votes, respectively. Ms. Kerins came in third with 3,755 votes; Ms. Bird was last with 3,568.
Hopewell Township voters approved a ballot question to form a charter commission, which will study the township’s form of government and may recommend a change to another form. Such a change would have to be approved by the voters in another election. There were 4,188 "yes" votes on forming the commission and 3,518 "no" votes.
Bill Cane, Janet Crum, Jon Edwards, Jim McGuire and Patricia Tieman were elected to the charter commission. They defeated Bob Beyer, Bob Higgins, Bill Schoelwer and Daniel Linke.
Township voters approved a ballot question on increasing the township’s open space tax from 3 to 4 cents per $100 of assessed property value. There were 4,161 "yes" votes and 3,571 "no" votes on that question.
A ballot question on instituting a 1-cent recreation tax was soundly defeated, 4,604 to 3,241.