Hopewell Township voters have given their approval to create a Charter Study Commission to examine the municipality’s current form of government.
The general election results reflect what has been posted online by the Mercer County Clerk’s Office as of Nov. 3. The results of the general election will remain unofficial until they are certified by the county clerk’s office.
The first ballot decision asked township voters whether to establish a five-member commission under New Jersey’s Faulkner Act which would review the township’s current form of government and explore potential alternatives.
As of Nov. 3, there have been 4,204 votes cast approving the establishment of a five-member commission. 2,197 votes were cast against the measure.
A second ballot decision asked them to select up to five candidates to serve on the commission if the referendum passes. There were nine candidates seeking the five commission positions.
As of Nov. 3, Melanie R. Walter has received 3,707 votes, Tamera Matteo has earned 3,534 votes, Grace Elizabeth Rarich has secured 3,222 votes, Francis Guenther has received 3,047 votes, Christopher Pazdan has secured 2,968 votes, Stephen Klopfer has earned 2,862 votes, Michael Markulec has received 2,749 votes, Chad Goerner has earned 2,428 votes, and Joshua J. Wilson secures 2,410 votes.
There have been 104 write-in candidates cast by township voters.
With voters approving the referendum, the five candidates receiving the most votes will serve on the commission. If the referendum had failed, no commission would have been established, regardless of the results of the candidate election.
Hopewell Township currently operates under a committee form of government, with five members elected at large to staggered three-year terms.
The committee selects a mayor and deputy mayor annually from among its members rather than having residents elect a mayor directly.
The Charter Study Commission would operate independently of the Township Committee and have up to nine months to examine the current structure, gather public input and consider alternatives.
The commission could recommend changes to the township’s form of government or determine that no changes are necessary. Any proposed change would be subject to voter approval in a subsequent election, potentially in 2027.
Establishing the commission would not, by itself, change how the township is governed.
The Township Committee has also secured a $60,000 state grant for a separate review of township operations and governance.
That study would have continued regardless of the outcome of the charter commission referendum.
The findings will be available to the commission.
