With in-person early voting beginning this weekend for the Nov. 5 general election, Hopewell Borough and Pennington voters will have uncontested council races on the ballot.
Hopewell Borough:
Hopewell Borough has two three-year terms on the ballot for Borough Council. Democratic candidates Anthony Fuller and Councilwoman Debra Stuhler are running unopposed for those terms.
Fuller is seeking his first term on Borough Council and Stuhler seeks to earn her third term to the governing body. There were no Republicans filed for the general election.
Fuller: “My name is Anthony Fuller and in November I am running for Hopewell Borough Council. Hopewell Borough has been home since 2005 not just for me, but also for my wife Sarah and our two children.
“The borough is a welcoming, safe place. I took that for granted for a long time, but as my kids grew up, I came to appreciate that communities like ours don’t appear from nowhere – people care, and they act,” he said. “With my children now more independent, I can step up and show my commitment to the town by sharing my knowledge and experience, supporting Hopewell as it navigates challenging questions.
“One of those topics is the future of our water system. The history is complex, and we now face a momentous choice about ownership. In principle I am not in favor of privatization, but there is no easy solution. In the coming year we must flesh out what the various scenarios could be, and assess the viability of those options, before the town decides what to do.
“I make a point of listening to alternative perspectives, because I know that good decisions take account of different peoples’ concerns. Professionally, I have extensive experience in procurement, contract negotiation and sustainability.
“We face important decisions about Hopewell’s future, and I hope that my knowledge and personal
approach will help us develop a positive, shared vision of what Hopewell Borough can become.
“Hopewell Borough means a lot to me. I am invested in this town, and I hope to have the
opportunity to contribute to its future.”
Stuhler: “I have lived in Hopewell Valley for 22 years. Vice President / Project Manager at Merrill Lynch/Bank of America for 26 years. Married to Bob Stuhler since 1988, son Sam Stuhler, he attended Hopewell schools and graduated in 2011.
“I am running for my third term serving on Borough Council, as we have a lot of work to get done on major issues affecting the borough. This new administration, led by Mayor Ryan Kennedy, and Doug Walker, our borough administrator, is working hard to usher in a new era of inclusive, responsive, efficient government and includes implementing communication approaches that allow everyone to be heard. I am excited to be a part of it and will continue to work hard to make our beloved town the best it can be.
“Biggest Issue for the Valley: The Hopewell Parc PILOT program is currently in litigation on this issue in the courts, but my hope is that the township will come to the table to negotiate a fair outcome with the two boroughs, that covers the cost for our shared regional school system here in the Valley.
“The biggest issues in Hopewell Borough are the redevelopment of the Hopewell 57 brownfield site and addressing the issues impacting our water system and our ability to sustain it. We as a council are working on both of these issues full-time and will continue to work hard to get the right approach and decisions made for the benefit of the borough and its residents.
“I hope to continue to serve my community as a council member, as there is much work to be done. We have a great team on council right now and everyone brings their skillset to the table for the benefit of the community at large.
“I have served on many committees as council liaison over the past six years, I recruited some incredible local members to the health department to aid them in serving Hopewell Borough’s needs, the Building Committee works on taking care of properties owned by the borough, the Recreation Committee has been very successful in producing fun events for the town, and the Shade Tree committee is working hard to continuing my work on behalf of the borough we all call home.”
Pennington:
In the Nov. 5 general election, there will be two candidates, both Democrats, on the ballot for two three-year terms on Pennington Council. Democratic candidates Dan Rubenstein and Councilwoman Nadine Stern are running unopposed in their races for two terms on council.
Rubenstein is seeking his first term on Pennington Council and Stern is an incumbent running for a second term on the governing body. No Republicans filed for the general election.
Rubenstein: “I was a member of the school board for six years and served as president for two. I have been a member of Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS) for over two decades and just stepped down as president to become a [council member].”
Rubenstein has been a member of the Pennington Environmental Commission for two years.
“I enjoy hiking, bike riding and running throughout Hopewell Valley. Understanding natural history and conserving biodiversity fills a lot of my free time. You will see the connection to my work in Kenya.
I am a fellow of many scientific societies, especially the American Academy of Sciences as my professional biography will show and I am president elect of the Society of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Honor Society.
He is a Class of 1877 Professor of Zoology, Emeritus at Princeton University in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. Rubenstein’s research focuses on decision-making in animals.
Stern: “I have lived on Sked Street in Pennington for 32 years. My husband and I raised our two daughters here and they attended the local public schools. Now my husband and I live with our dog, Max, in the house we continue to love.
“I retired in 2019 and that has given me new opportunities to become involved in local service and politics. I retired from my role as deputy CIO at Princeton University where I worked for eight years. Prior to that, I was the vice president for Information Technology and Student Services at The College of New Jersey for 15 years, and before that I worked at Rutgers University.Â
“My political activities really began in 2016. Since then, I have served on the Pennington Democratic Committee, which I now chair, and I was instrumental in re-activating the Hopewell Valley Democratic Club. I have participated in local Mercer Moms group events.
“I was first elected to the Pennington Borough Council in 2021, so I am now running for my second, three-year term. I have served on the Shade Tree Committee, Open Space Committee, Historic Preservation Committee, Planning Board and Master Plan sub-committee.
“I chair the Public Works Committee. I have been instrumental in efforts to expand and improve borough communications, which is a particular interest of mine as a council person. I love being on the Pennington Borough Council and having the opportunity to serve this wonderful community.”
