Two Democrats and two Republicans are running for two seats on the township committee this fall. The incumbents are Michael Ruger and Kevin Kuchinski. Challenging the Democrats for the second year running is the GOP slate of Jennifer DiDonato and Daniel J. Hanley, Jr.
Jennifer DiDonato, 47, is a “domestic CEO,” AKA stay-at-home mom. She has lived in Hopewell Township for 11 years. She and husband Peter DiDonato have two children, a son in high school and a daughter in college.
DiDonato is a Class of 2027 parent representative, freshman soccer team parent representative, CHS PTO member, Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance member, and Pennington 5K committee member.
Daniel J. Hanley, Jr., 53, is a certified financial planner. He has lived in Hopewell for 14 years. Hanley and wife Andrea have three children: Bryce and Austyn, who attend Hopewell Valley Central, and Hudson, a student at Bear Tavern Elementary
The second-time candidate for committee has served as a board member and treasurer of the Hopewell Valley YMCA and treasurer of Hopewell Valley Lacrosse, and is on the Hopewell Valley High School Class of 2025 PTO. He is also a Hopewell Valley recreational lacrosse coach.
Kevin D. Kuchinski, 54, is managing partner and chief operating officer of Princeton Partners and a founding partner of Sourland Mountain Spirits, New Jersey’s first farm-based craft distillery since Prohibition. He has lived in Hopewell for more than 20 years. Kuchinski and wife Leslie have four children: Ryan, Brennan, Liam and Kaitlyn.
Kuchinski is a board member and past president of the Hopewell Valley Education Foundation, co-chair of the advisory board for the Watershed Institute and chair of the St. James Finance Council. He is also a board member for the N.J. Chapter of the American Red Cross and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. He has been on the township committee since 2015 and served as mayor from 2016-18. He is the finance lead for the committee and also serves on the planning board, parks and recreation advisory committee, the historic preservation commission and the newly formed tourism and economic development committee.
Michael Ruger, 60, is vice president, local government affairs, policy and operations for Comcast. The 25-year Hopewell resident is married to Tracy Vogler and they have three children: Teddy, Billy and Bobby.
Currently the mayor of Hopewell Township, Ruger has been on the township committee for six years. He has been the township committee liaison to the public works department and the police department. He has served as a member of or liaison to the environmental commission, open space committee, planning board, Woolsey Park advisory committee, agricultural advisory committee and citizens equity advisory committee. He is vice chair of the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Mercer County and chair of the board of Visitors of the Political Science Department at Penn State. He previously served as vice chair of the board of the Juvenile Law Center.
The Hopewell Express emailed questionnaires to the candidates and asked for their responses. Their answers can be found below, edited as little as possible for length, grammar or clarity.
Tell us about the moment that you decided to run, or run again, for township committee. Why did you make this decision?
Jennifer DiDonato: I noticed numerous for sale signs in my surrounding area and three large construction projects in the southern part of Hopewell Township, all rapidly progressing. These projects aim to create more than 2,000 new homes. Although I briefly considered moving, my husband reminded me that change begins at home. I’m determined to ensure responsible project management with a focus on environmental protection, safety for residents, including humans, animals, and insects.
Daniel J. Hanley, Jr.: During the height of Covid, I would walk outside and listen to my favorite podcasts. One of them resonated with me and inspired me to run for office. The podcast host proclaimed: “You must start local from the bottom up to change anything in this country.” And nothing has changed since then.
Kevin Kuchinski: I first ran for township committee because I wanted to: increase financial discipline in the Township and lower taxes; and lead the fight against the PennEast pipeline and protect the Valley’s rural character. We’ve made significant progress on both fronts.
My focus moving forward will be on reducing the share of taxes paid by residents. The revitalization of the former BMS site and the PILOT agreements we’ve negotiated will help us achieve this.
Michael Ruger: I initially ran for Township Committee because I wanted to help our community. For the past six years I have had the honor to work for the people of Hopewell Township. I am proud of our accomplishments. There is more to be done, and I am running again because I want to continue to make the township an even better place to live. And as I have done for six years, I will represent everyone.
Rate the job the committee has done in recent years to attract new ratables to the township. What can you as a member of the committee do in the future to ensure that the township remains attractive for business?
Kuchinski: We have successfully revitalized the former BMS site, creating an innovation hub for pharmaceutical businesses and attracting four world-class companies. BeiGene is investing ~$700 Million in its facility and is on-track to deliver more tax revenue on 40 acres than the entire 186-acre site formerly did. We worked closely with the private sector, state and county to make the campus attractive to pharma companies and to secure these new investments.
More recently, we took advantage of new state cannabis laws and attracted an indoor cannabis cultivation facility to Hopewell. We will receive 2% of revenues from this facility, and strict lighting, odor and security controls will be in place. I will also continue my work to support new small businesses and restaurants in Hopewell.
Ruger: We have done an outstanding job. Several years ago, we faced the loss of BMS. This blew a huge hole in the budget. We worked with the state, County, and private sector to reimagine the site as the Princeton West Innovation Campus, a location for world-class pharmaceutical development. We attracted tenants, reinforcing Hopewell Township as an innovation hub.
We also took advantage of New Jersey’s cannabis law to allow cannabis cultivation, manufacturing and sales in the township, which will bring in new ratables while carefully balancing all interests and ensuring the protection of minors. And we started a tourism and economic development advisory committee to work with existing businesses and attract new ones that are consistent with the nature and character of the township.
DiDonato: It’s apparent that the committee has made efforts to attract new businesses to the township. The outcome and proper project management of those efforts remains to be seen. Actively seeking feedback from existing businesses and exploring ways to address their needs, as satisfied current stakeholders could be our best advocates.
Ultimately, our committee must remain adaptable and forward thinking, continuously evaluating their strategies and adjusting them to meet the evolving needs of businesses and residents in the township. By fostering innovation, nurturing existing relationships, and forging new ones, we can ensure the township remains attractive and thriving for years to come.
Hanley: It’s very difficult to get anything through the zoning board, which deters businesses from coming here. Notably, businesses like Wawa and QuickChek. I would ask, why did BMS leave? Did they leave for tax reasons? I know we gave a $2 million tax break to a multibillion-dollar public company to move here. I would contact the National Main Street program to see how we can possibly establish a “Main Street.”
What are two vital issues facing Hopewell Township today, and what will you do as a member of the township committee to address them?
DiDonato: Overdevelopment. The pace of overdevelopment in our township has become alarming. The recent growth lacks the necessary forethought required to manage the consequences of an expanding population. A proper proposal should be formulated to address the escalating issues of traffic congestion and overcrowding of our schools. In school board meetings, it’s been suggested that at least two schools need additions, possibly requiring a referendum. Will the township use PILOT funds wisely for these additions, or will taxpayers bear the burden of another referendum?
Collaboration with Hopewell and Pennington Boroughs. It’s imperative to foster collaboration and effective partnerships with our neighboring boroughs. It’s a perplexing situation that these two adjacent boroughs, whose children also attend our schools, were offered no benefits of township PILOT funds. It is essential to find equitable solutions that profit all parties involved.
Hanley: The overdevelopment of the township and the traffic issues that will follow. We must maintain the beauty and character of the township. In order to achieve this, new planning and zoning boards must be appointed to ensure they follow the master plan developed in 2002.
Kuchinski: The first issue is affordability. I have worked hard to ensure thetownship delivers the services residents expect for less, and we were able to lower the municipal tax rate this year. Looking ahead, we must leverage revenues from new commercial taxpayers to reduce the share of taxes paid by residents. New, more affordable housing options will also help, enabling young families, teachers and first responders to live in Hopewell.
The second issue I will focus on is defending our water and the environment. I do not support the broad-scale conversion of homes to commercial uses, particularly in the environmentally-sensitive MRC/VRC districts. With limited water resources in the Valley, we need to continually guard against development proposals and fight to preserve Hopewell’s special character.
Ruger: The first issue is change. In the township’s recent history we have seen the construction of Brandon Farms, the Merrill Lynch campus, Capital Health, and Hopewell Crossing, for example. More change is coming, including developments under construction pursuant to a 2017 agreement adopted by a unanimous, bipartisan township committee to fulfill our affordable housing commitment. We will welcome our new neighbors while making sure the township has services and amenities for all residents.
The second issue is finances. I have worked to ensure we get the most value out of your tax dollar and will continue to do so by carefully reviewing each budget, paying down debt, and looking for new sources of revenue. I’m proud that we reduced the township tax rate this year.
How will you, as a member of the township committee, take Hopewell forward?
Kuchinski: First, I will focus on reducing the township’s debt, which currently consumes almost 25% of the municipal budget. This will allow us to decrease wasteful interest payments while improving township services for residents. Second, I look forward to the construction and opening of the new senior and community center, which will create added space for senior programs as well as new recreation and fitness facilities. Importantly, the center will include both lap and warm-water pools and enable us to bring our high school swimmers home.
Finally, we will be seeing significant new revenues over the coming years from the successful revitalization of the former BMS site and our PILOT agreements. We should leverage these monies to further reduce taxes for residents.
Ruger: I have already discussed finances. In future years, as we see the benefits of new revenue streams, I want to pay down township debt, which accounts for about a quarter of our budget. We’ll need to balance this against any expansion of services but I am confident we can do so. I want us to sell Pennytown, a well-intentioned purchase by a long-ago committee. I want to see the opening of the senior and community center, for which we received a $2 million down payment from the state. And I want us to continue to see how we can increase transparency and citizen participation. We’ve come a long way with hybrid committee meetings, our monthly and quarterly newsletters, and increased social media presence.
DiDonato: I would advocate for fostering open communication by actively encouraging increased public participation, not just in the township committee meetings but in all subcommittee meetings as well. These meetings should prioritize in-person sessions while retaining virtual options. Relying on a virtual approach is ineffective and fails to nurture a sense of community inclusion.
Efficient communication and collaboration with Hopewell and Pennington boroughs are crucial endeavors. Our children share classrooms, playgrounds, sports facilities, while our seniors rely on common services. We also depend on shared roads and infrastructure. Establishing a harmonious relationship is vital to jointly address challenging issues and reach amicable resolutions.
The recent application to the zoning board for a commercial land-use variance of the former Hollystone Manor on Fiddler’s Creek Road has put a spotlight on the township’s master plan. Can you say that you have read the master plan start to finish? To what extent is it the committee’s duty to heed, interpret and/or update the master plan?
DiDonato: I have read through the master plan as well as the 2016 amendment and 2021 reexamination. The recent decision of the zoning board regarding Hollystone/The Hopewell does not seem to align with this plan. The master plan emphasizes that growth should be in accordance with capacity limits and guided by natural resource capabilities and infrastructure.
Residents in the vicinity are worried that the substantial water demands of this commercial project may necessitate residents to invest in new, more powerful, or deeper wells to supplement their water supply. Furthermore, a section of the master plan encourages the strategic placement and design of transportation routes that facilitate smooth traffic flow while discouraging the establishment of facilities and routes that lead to congestion or blight.
Unfortunately, this consideration was overlooked when granting the zoning variance for Hollystone Manor, potentially resulting in increasing traffic issues along Route 29 and impacting neighboring homes on Fiddler’s Creek.
Hanley: The master plan is 82 pages long with many of the page’s being maps of the township which include: steep slopes, geology and forested areas. My personal philosophy is to use the master plan as a strict guardrail and to enforce the plan as was intended. As David Brower said: “We do not inherit the earth from our fathers, we are borrowing it from our children.”
I subscribe to the master plan summary: The future face of the Hopewell Valley will be shaped, in large measure, by this master plan. The open fields and meadows, the calming influences of free-flowing streams and rivers, and the beauty of forested slopes are a legacy for future generations.
Faithful adherence to the policies outlined in this conservation plan, combined with a broad concept of stewardship where all citizens contribute, will protect and enhance the special character of the landscape, and the healthy ecology with which Hopewell Township is blessed.
Kuchinski: Yes, I have read the master plan from start to finish. It puts strict limits on development, particularly in the Mountain and Valley Resource Conservation Districts, which I strongly support. I first ran for committee when PennEast proposed to build a redundant fossil fuel pipeline through the heart of the preserved open space and farmland in the township, and led the fight to defeat this project over 7 years. Subsequently, we stopped Kooltronics from building hundreds of homes in a rural portion of the township and successfully preserved the Hopewell Valley golf course in partnership with the County.
I am proud that 43% of Hopewell Township is now preserved open space/farmland and outdoor recreation space. We have created an extensive trail network and have one of the most walk-able/bike-able communities in the area. The committee and planning board have been working to update and affirm key master plan elements.
Ruger: I have read the master plan. I won’t comment on matters before the independent zoning or planning boards that may be subject to board or judicial review. I believe it is inappropriate for me as a committee member to do so. But we should be guided by the master plan. Exceptions should be made only after careful review, and should not become the norm.
The plan covers many areas, including housing (noting as an objective “to provide for a variety of housing types which respond to the needs of households of varying size, age and income, persons with disabilities and emerging demographic characteristics”), community facilities (“to provide facilities for community groups and cultural activities”), and recreation and open space (“to devise appropriate strategies for the public and private ownership and maintenance of open space and recreation lands”). These are some of the areas I have addressed while on the committee.
High cost of living, high taxes and high home values have many residents fearful that they will be unable to remain in Hopewell in their later years. What can or should the township committee do to ensure that people will not be displaced as they age?
Kuchinski: This is an issue near and dear to my heart. I have seen far too many families and seniors move out of Hopewell Valley, in pursuit of lower taxes. A critical first step to making Hopewell more affordable is diversifying our housing options, including lower cost condos and townhomes and new rental options.
Fully 25% of the affordable units being built are reserved for seniors. Democrats’ StayNJ program will be another important tool to help older residents remain in Hopewell. This program starts in 2023 and will ultimately provide a 50% property tax credit for seniors, up to $10,000/year.
Ruger: Helping people age in place with dignity is critically important. The township committee cannot control federal, state, county, or school taxes, or the cost of living. But we can control our budget. It’s not all about finances, though. We need a variety of housing for seniors of all income levels.
The Four Seasons development provided my late mother-in-law, June Vogler, with an accessible home to stay in the township. The new developments will have senior housing. We also must continue to provide services such as transportation and meals. And soon, we’ll have a new senior and community center.
DiDonato: With aging parents residing locally, I am deeply invested in ensuring their financial well being. I believe the township should consider various avenues to provide greater support to its senior community. A few efforts I would encourage them to explore would be to freeze property tax rates, establish an income-based tax relief, offer senior tax exemptions or discounts, launch a tax deferral program, create homestead exemptions for seniors who live in their primary residences and implement property value caps.
Additionally, I’d seek to provide senior tax workshops, establish a community organization or volunteer assistance, and encourage collaboration with senior centers.
Hanley: This is a very important issue as we want them to stay in New Jersey where most likely their family still lives. I am not sure if your readers are aware, but Gov. Phil Murphy announced a program called StayNJ where homeowners 65 and older who make $500,000 or less will qualify for up to $6,500 in property tax relief. Renters would also get up to $700 in rebates. The township committee needs to ensure that all future affordable housing is actually affordable.
Why should the people of Hopewell Township elect you to serve the next three years on the committee?
DiDonato: I am dedicated to our community’s roots and inspired by the legacy of my immigrant great grandparents who settled in Hopewell in the 1930s. I’m driven by a deep sense of patriotism. Their stories of welcoming WWII soldiers’ home on the trains as they came through town have instilled in me a profound commitment to preserving our beautiful landscape, just as they found it. My mission is to balance growth and environmental responsibility while fostering unity and improving transparency among committee members.
Hanley: I’ve spent the last three decades in finance, the last 11 years financial planning for families and foundations. As a CFP, guided as being a fiduciary, I hold my clients’ best interests before mine and would do the same for my fellow residents.
Kuchinski: I have worked tirelessly on behalf of township residents to keep Hopewell green and make it more affordable, and look forward to the opportunity to continue serving. I will focus in the next three years on further reducing the township’s debt and leveraging revenues from new commercial ratables to lower taxes. I will continue to defend the environment, with a focus on new, regional storm water management solutions to prevent flooding and protect drinking water.
Ruger: A fellow mayor said, “It is a privilege when a resident calls you and asks for help, because you are in the position to help them.” I take the privilege of public service seriously. I have worked hard on the business of governing, working to ensure we are doing the right thing. I am on the committee to serve the people of Hopewell Township, and that is what I will continue to do if reelected.
