Letter To The Editor: In Support Of Sophia Hull For Chatham Borough Council

CHATHAM, NJ - "Proud father" Richard Hull has penned a letter to the editor supporting the candidacy of his daughter, Sophia, for council.

Democrats David Andreasen, Nicholas C. Eck and Arianna "Sophia" Hull will vie for their party's two available nominations on Tuesday, June 2.

To the Editor:

Sophia Hull is an excellent candidate for the Chatham Borough Council – she was raised in the borough, has extensive professional expertise in environmental and city planning, and brings a collaborative energy into all of her endeavors.

My late wife and I moved to Chatham Borough when Sophia was 5, because of the warm, small-town atmosphere, the beauty of the neighborhoods, and the excellent schools. Sophia has fallen in love with the town, returning to Chatham permanently after finishing college and graduate school. Sophia embodies the values we sought to instill during her childhood: human kindness, honesty and integrity, service to community, and a love of the natural world.

Sophia holds degrees in Environmental Policy and City and Regional Planning, and works now as a Principal Environmental Planner for Hudson County. She will bring deep awareness of land use policy, environmental planning, and development law to the Borough Council.

She understands the importance of balancing the human need for comfortable living spaces with long-term stewardship of our natural environment, while providing beautiful community spaces that can be enjoyed for generations. She seeks to preserve the small-town character of Chatham Borough while facilitating a vibrant, economically sustainable home for small businesses.

She views planning as a service to the full community, that starts with reaching out directly to residents and businesses to understand their concerns and desires. She has a knack for finding common ground among competing interests.

Sophia’s spirit of service runs deep. At the Chatham High School, she was active in the Environmental Club and the Key Club. While at college she served as an officer in the University of Maryland Wildlife Society. And now in Chatham she has been serving on the Shade Tree Commission and the Planning Board.

Sophia is a genuinely warm human being, with a deep sense of ethics. She will bring rich energy and thoughtful leadership to the Borough Council.

Sincerely,

Richard Hull, proud father

(Editor's Note: Opinions expressed herein belong to the writer alone, and do not reflect the opinions of Patch)