Borough mayoral candidates differ in campaigns

Joseph O’Neill’s more academic approach contrasts with the standard playbook used by State Assemblyman Reed Gusciora.

By: Jennifer Potash
   The heated Princeton Borough Democratic mayoral primary is a study in contrasts in the approach taken by the two candidates.
   Joseph O’Neill, a borough councilman who views the role of mayor as an educator of the citizenry, runs his campaign like a mini-seminar, with lengthy position papers mailed to all Democratic voters.
   "I’ve received wonderful comments from people who read them," said Mr. O’Neill of his two papers on the long-term future of the borough and on affordable housing.
   Mr. O’Neill’s opponent, State Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, follows the standard campaign playbook — fund-raisers, glossy handbills and even a Web site. Calling himself "the underdog" in the race, Mr. Gusciora sees parallels between this campaign and his first Assembly campaign in 1995, when he spent a lot of time introducing himself to the voters and his stance on the issues.
   And like that first race, Mr. Gusciora says he is running against the status quo. "If voters are happy with the way the town is going, then vote for my opponent," Mr. Gusciora said. "But I have concerns about all this over-development."
   A key theme in Mr. Gusciora’s campaign is how his eight years in the state Assembly, and now his greater role in the Assembly leadership, would benefit borough residents.
   "For every bill introduced, I would know firsthand how it impacts borough residents," Mr. Gusciora said.
   Mr. O’Neill also promotes his experience as a longtime observer of Princeton Borough and its trends.
   "I bring an extraordinary level of knowledge of the workings of this town," said Mr. O’Neill, who served 18 years on the Princeton Regional Planning Board.
   One similarity is how both candidates use small cozy gatherings in neighborhood homes as a means to meet residents and garner votes.
   Mr. Gusciora, a Maclean Street resident, set up informal wine-and-cheese parties in various neighborhoods.
   A discussion over coffee at homes in different neighborhoods or gatherings of neighborhood associations is a hallmark of Mr. O’Neill’s campaign.
   Mr. O’Neill says the sessions offer more than just the opportunity to gauge what voters think about the issues.
   "This really helps me refine some ideas that have been floating around my mind," Mr. O’Neill said at the conclusion of a coffee gathering Sunday morning.
   Residents at these meetings ask pretty much the same set of questions — usually about the downtown garage development, taxes, Princeton University’s contribution to the municipality and the possibility of The Medical Center at Princeton moving out of the borough.
   On many of these issues, the candidates agree, but with some nuanced differences.
   Mr. O’Neill, for example, supports the Borough Council’s decision to proceed with the downtown garage development, but says in hindsight the governing body should have had more public hearings prior to the final selection of a developer.
   Mr. Gusciora does not criticize the council’s decision, and calls the development plan a good example of smart growth. But he points out over 800 residents signed a petition asking the council to consider either dropping the project or picking a smaller parking-shelf design for the garage.
   Regarding municipal property taxes, each candidate suggests a closer look at borough operations. Mr. O’Neill suggests the Borough Council examine if borough staffing levels are appropriate. Reduced staffing may lower costs, and taxes, in the long run, he said.
   Mr. Gusciora has suggested combining more municipal services with Princeton Township, such as the courts and public works departments.
   In a municipality where Democrats win elections with margins upward of 60 percent, the Democratic primary is seen as the de facto general election.
   The Republicans have not fielded a candidate. But the local GOP may yet have someone on the ticket if the party fields a write-in effort on primary day. Some third-party candidates have expressed interest, but no one has filed a petition. The deadline for independent candidates to file for the November election is the same date as the primary, June 3.
   Mr. O’Neill said Princeton is really a one-party town and, as such, the Princeton Community Democratic Organization candidate selection process should be more open to give residents a bigger role in selecting candidates.
   If the PCDO endorsement session is any barometer of the race, the winner could be determined by a handful of votes.
   Neither Mr. O’Neill nor Mr. Gusciora won 60 percent of the PCDO membership vote to secure the endorsement. But Mr. O’Neill won among borough members by a single vote.