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Township mayor eyes biggest issues of 2023 BY JOE EMANSKI At this year’s annual township reorganization meeting in January, two-term committee member Michael Ruger took the reins as mayor of Hopewell for the first time. He succeeded Courtney PetersManning, who was a first-time mayor herself in 2022. PetersManning is serving as deputy mayor this year. This means that the committee’s three senior members (Ruger, Peters-Manning and Kevin Kuchinski) have now all taken at least one turn as leader of the committee. Uma Purandare and David Chait are the committee’s other members. Hopewell Valley Youth Wrestling girls’ team members Elinor Morfe, Naëlle Belony, Reese Bartlett and Emma Each year, the committee nomiMcLaughlin at a recent team practice. (Photo by Matthew Eaton.) nates and then votes on which members will become mayor and deputy mayor for the year. Considering the committee’s now longstanding Democratic majority — John Hart was the last Republican to serve, in 2019 — the choice of BY JOE EMANSKI onship wrestling is set to kick off. Wrestling has been part of the mayor often comes down to which “Just (speaking) as a fan, the post- growth of girls’ wrestling at the member of the committee is most The end of February may sig- season is when wrestling is defi- youth level. His daughter, Elinor, a ready to make the commitment. nal the end of wresting’s regular nitely on the brain,” says Brendon kindergartner at Toll Gate Gram“Courtney had an absolutely season, but one coach in Hopewell Morfe, a Pennington resident and mar School, was one of four girls fantastic term as mayor last year,” Valley says that in some ways, coach with Hopewell Valley Youth to participate in the program this Ruger said in an interview last March is actually the most excit- Wrestling, formerly known as the year. month. “I served as her deputy. ing time of the year in the sport. Hopewell Valley Junior Bulldogs. Morfe hopes that more will join This year, we talked about it and The first week of the month Championships are not the only next season, and for many of them, with my twins graduating this will bring the high school state reason that Morfe has wrestling March could be the time of year year, it works out that it’s a good Welcome Health. championships. And later in the on his mind. He is also excited when they to get Capital on the mat for the time for me to do it.” See WRESTLING, Page 6 month, national collegiate champi- because Hopewell Valley Youth As mayor, Ruger serves as chair When someone you care about is sick, you’ll do whatever it takes to make sure they get the best care. And so do we.
far would Girls’ wrestling onhow the rise you go if they were sick?
of township committee meetings, sets the agenda for meetings. “I always consider us equals, but the mayor is the chair because somebody has to chair,” Ruger said. The mayor is the member of the committee who works most closely with the township administrator, George Snyder. The mayor represents the township at events and, of course, has the power to officiate a marriage ceremony, a privilege that Ruger has already had the chance to enjoy. Ruger said that while all the committee members work pretty closely with the township administrator, as mayor he has weekly phone meetings with Snyder to talk about township issues. “He keeps me informed about what’s going on with the departments, and I offer the advice and guidance that I can,” Ruger said. “We have an excellent working relationship, and I’m really glad we have him leading the township staff.” One of our most important duties as a committee, Ruger said, is to develop and deliver a “responsible, realistic” budget. The committee started work on the capital budget in January with hopes to finish work on it by the end of February. Then it’s on to the operating budget, with the hope of having See RUGER, Page 4
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