Meet the Candidates
Five Township residents ready to take a serious, open-minded look at how our government is structured.
Christopher Pazdan
Chris Pazdan is a lifelong resident of the Township, raised on his grandparents farm north of Hopewell Borough. He is a product of the Hopewell Valley school system, and he has farmed all of his life around the Township, having become one of the largest farmers in the Valley today. He joined the Township Agricultural Advisory Committee fifteen years ago, and today he serves as its co-chair, along with being a member of the Mercer County Agricultural Development Board. He previously has been a member of the Woolsey Park Advisory Committee and the Tourism and Economic Development Advisory Committee, and he currently serves as co-chair of the Township Deer Management Advisory Committee and sits on the Zoning Board. Being a farmer and a deer hunter, he has a deep appreciation for the land in Hopewell Township. Having watched the Township change over the years, he has always looked at both sides of any changes and believes that being fair and open to any proposal is the only way to form an opinion that would change how a system works.
Melanie R. Walter
Melanie Walter is a lifelong New Jersey and Mercer County resident who has resided in Hopewell Township for the past three years with her husband and two young children. Melanie loves hiking in the Sourlands preserve, biking on the towpath, and taking her kids to Howell Farm, and deeply appreciates the wonderful community and services Hopewell Township offers to its residents. A licensed attorney, Melanie earned her J.D. and Masters Degree in Public Policy from the College of William and Mary. Melanie has spent her career in public service, working for state government in several roles including at the Attorney General's Office and previously serving as the Director of the Division of Local Government Services, in which capacity she worked with local government entities on a variety of governance, finance, and efficiency matters. As a dedicated policy practitioner who believes deeply in public service, Melanie is excited to be a candidate for the Hopewell Township Charter Study Commission because it presents an opportunity to serve the community she calls home.
Francis (Frank) Guenther
Frank Guenther is a licensed psychologist in New Jersey and Pennsylvania who practices out of Flemington and Pennington. He has resided in Hopewell Township along with his wife Angela for the past 6 years in Wellington Manor, a vibrant community of adults who are 55+. Frank obtained his Ph.D. in Psychoeducational Processes from Temple University, and he specializes in working with individuals who have experienced significant life traumas. Previously residing in Hunterdon County, Frank served on the Alexandria Township School Board, the Alexandria Township Environmental Commission, and the Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission, and he was a member of the local Lions Club. Frank continues to be actively involved in his community as he serves as Vice Chair on the Hopewell Township Senior Advisory Board and was recently appointed to the McCarter Theater Access Advisory Board. Additionally, Frank has been an adjunct Professor of Psychology at Lehigh University and Penn State University Fogelsville Campus. Frank believes that giving back to the community is an essential part of his identity and he is eager to serve as a member of the Hopewell Township Charter Study Commission.
Grace Elizabeth Rarich
Grace Elizabeth Rarich is a passionate seventh grade teacher of life science at Timberlane Middle School and a life-long resident of Hopewell Township. She graduated from Hopewell Valley Central High School in 1999. A 2003 graduate from The College of New Jersey with a major in Biology Education and minor in Chemistry, she considers herself very lucky that she has been able to spend the past 20 years teaching in her former middle school. She used to coach both TMS softball and field hockey but now enjoys coaching her eight year old son's baseball team. Grace is very active in the Mercer County Education Association as both the MCEA immediate past president and a co-chair of the MCEA Legislative Action Team. Since 2011, she has spent countless hours in Trenton serving as a county representative on the NJEA Government Relations Committee. She has recently spent more time on West State Street serving Thomas Edison State University as a Board of Trustees member. Grace is looking forward to the opportunity to serve the community of Hopewell Township as a member of the Charter Study Commission.
Joshua Wilson
Joshua Wilson is a longtime Hopewell Township resident, Deputy Fire Chief with Hopewell Township Fire District, and community leader whose career has been defined by service to Hopewell Valley. With more than 28 years of experience in emergency services, Joshua has built a reputation for steady leadership, strong relationships, and a commitment to protecting the community. A graduate of Timberlane Middle School and Hopewell Valley Regional High School, Joshua chose to dedicate his professional career to public service earning a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Fire Science. His commitment to Hopewell Township extends well beyond his professional responsibilities. Joshua and his wife, Jessica, are raising their two daughters who attend Timberlane Middle School and Stony Brook Elementary School. This continues the family's long standing connection to the Hopewell Valley Regional School District in the same community that shaped his own life.