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Write-in candidates vie for uncontested seat on Board of Ed EDITED BY JOE EMANSKI
Hopewell Valley soccer players pile on game-winning, double-overtime goal scorer Meg Kurian after her goal at Robbinsville gave HoVal a 2-1 win and the outright CVC title on Oct. 15, 2024. (Photo by Suzette Lucas.)
Mayer keeps it simple as HoVal soccer heads down the right path BY RICH FISHER As a center back, Clara Mayer plays a rugged position on the soccer field and she plays it well by not doing anything more than needs to be done. “I’d say (the key is) probably just playing simply,” the Hopewell Valley Central High senior said. “I think sometimes if I get too focused on trying to
do complicated things It can often lead to some not-ideal situations. I try to focus on just doing the basics — not letting people turn, stepping to the ball early – rather than super complicated things. “I definitely focus on the ball the most. I feel like you can really get swept up when people are doing crazy moves and stuff. You can get drawn away from
the ball. The most important part is focusing on the ball.” Mayer’s simplicity has made her a top defender on one of the top defensive teams in the Colonial Valley Conference. Through a 12-2-2 start, which earned the top seed in the Colonial Valley Conference Tournament, Hopewell had allowed 13 goals and recorded nine shutouts. See SOCCER, Page 14
In a year when voters resoundingly defeated a $83-million bond referendum put forth by the Hopewell Valley Regional School District, it is not surprising that enthusiasm runs low among prospective candidates for the board of education. That would explain why, under Column L of the Hopewell Township ballot where one might expect to find the names of candidates running for the one-year unexpired term currently filled by Sarah Tracy, it reads, simply, NO PETITION FILED. The good news is that at least three people in the township have commenced wordof-mouth campaigns, making it known that they would be willing to fill the seat if they were to receive the most write-in votes when votes are tabulated this month. The Hopewell Express heard from three campaigners — Nick Perold, Amanda Stylianou and Theresa Vogler — who have all told us that they are ready to step in if voters should take the extra effort required to insert their names onto the ballot. With the prevalence of early
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and mail-in voting, unfortunately, the Q&A below may come too late to help some voters make up their minds. But for those who have yet to submit their ballots, what follows may help them decide. Fortunately for those voters, the process of writing in a candidate for the open seat is straightforward. Next to Column L on the ballot reads the header PERSONAL CHOICE, and below that is a blank box with a circle in the upper right hand corner. This circle is to be filled in completely, and then the candidate’s full name written legibly beneath it in the box. Board members Jacqueline Genovesi and Dhruv Kapadia are also running for full threeyear terms, while board member John Slotman to complete the final two years of the seat that he was appointed to in January. It is possible to write in candidates in those races as well, using the same process described above but in the appropriate columns. That said, the three candidates in our Q&A below are specifically campaigning for the one-year unexpired term now filled by Tracy. Write-in votes cast for them in other races See Q&A, Page 10
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