By Lauren Otis, Staff Writer
The Princeton Community Democratic Organization has endorsed Jenny Crumiller’s candidacy for one of two Princeton Borough Council seats, which will be on the ballot in the June primary election.
Ms. Crumiller received the most votes at the PCDO endorsement meeting held Sunday evening at the Suzanne Patterson Center in Princeton. The PCDO also recommended Borough Councilman Kevin Wilkes, runner-up in the vote, for column placement on the June primary ballot.
Borough Councilwoman Margaret Karcher and Princeton University sophomore Mendy Fisch came in third and fourth in the PCDO voting.
For two Township Committee ballot slots in June, the PCDO endorsed Chad Goerner and Liz Lempert by acclamation. Mr. Goerner and Ms. Lempert, both serving on the Township Committee, were the only two candidates vying for the places.
David Cohen, PCDO president, said the names and placement on the primary ballot is ultimately up to Mercer County Democratic Chair Rich McClelland, although the PCDO endorsement carries a lot of weight.
In being fully endorsed, Ms. Crumiller would be listed in the Democratic party column on the primary ballot with the party label next to her name, according to Mr. Cohen. Mr. Wilkes would be in the party column as well but with no party label, he said.
Ms. Karcher and Mr. Fisch still could run in the primary, but their names would not be in the Democratic party column and would have no party label either, Mr. Cohen said.
Each candidate spoke at the PCDO meeting prior to the vote, although Ms. Karcher was not present, Mr. Cohen said.
”It was tough for her; she is recovering from surgery,” he said.
”We have no reason to believe that she won’t compete in the Democratic primary in June based on the level of support she got,” Mr. Cohen said.
Mr. McClelland could take into account Ms. Karcher’s incumbent status and the fact she wasn’t able to appear at the Sunday meeting and possibly choose to put her in the official Democratic column, Mr. Cohen said.
Out of 142 PCDO ballots cast Sunday, Ms. Crumiller received 97 votes, Mr. Wilkes 72, Ms. Karcher 40, and Mr. Fisch 22, according to the PCDO Web site. PCDO members were allowed to vote for up to two candidates, Mr. Cohen said, in explanation of why the votes totaled more than 142.
Ms. Crumiller said she was excited at being endorsed by the PCDO.
”I have a history with the PCDO. I am a former president. Of course, that helps,” she said.
Ms. Crumiller said she believed her strong interest in studying municipal consolidation of the borough and township, which she spoke about Sunday, helped her win the vote.
”I also spoke about the problems with the police, and that was well-received,” she said.
Mr. Wilkes said he, too, spoke to concerns about policing in Princeton.
”Personally I think the time has arrived for the borough and township to work together to unify these two forces,” Mr. Wilkes said.
Mr. Wilkes said he also spoke about his ongoing advocacy for a vibrant downtown Princeton as a member of Borough Council.
Mr. Wilkes said he is in favor of consolidation “but I want to find a way to make downtown a special district” so it does not lose its unique identity within a consolidated Princeton.
Mr. McClellan and Ms. Karcher had not returned calls seeking comment at deadline.

