Municipal Democratic chairman seeks to replace Mayor-elect Joseph O’Neill on governing body.
By: Jennifer Potash
The bid to replace Princeton Borough Mayor-elect Joseph O’Neill, a Democrat, on the Borough Council gained one candidate.
Andrew Koontz, municipal Democratic chairman and president of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization, said he will seek Mr. O’Neill’s council seat.
"I spent the weekend talking with people and I got a lot of encouragement so I’m definitely going to run," Mr. Koontz said.
Also, the date for Princeton Democrats’ open forum for prospective Borough Council candidates has been changed to Sunday, Dec. 14. The event will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Suzanne Patterson Senior Center located behind Princeton Borough Hall at Monument Drive and Stockton Street.
In early January, the Princeton Democrats will send a list of three candidates to the Borough Council. The council will vote on Mr. O’Neill’s replacement.
In other news, the PCDO will host a straw presidential primary poll on Sunday at the Suzanne Patterson Center. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m.
Mr. Koontz said New Jersey’s late primary, in June, means Garden State voters have less say in the nominating process.
Representatives from all nine declared Democratic presidential campaigns are invited to speak about their respective candidates, he said.
All registered Democrats in Princeton Borough and Princeton Township are eligible to vote in the straw poll.