By Victoria Hurley-Schubert, Staff Writer
A dark horse candidate is throwing her hat into the ring for the mayoral seat in Princeton Borough for the primary election on Tuesday.
Jill Jachera, a 16-year resident is attempting a write-in campaign for the Republican ticket.
”I’m running because a couple of the Democrats came to me who were unhappy with the choices,” she said. “They suggested I run; the more that I talked to people, I learned there was this incredible dissatisfaction with the choices.”
Ms. Jachera has been concerned there has not been anyone willing to run for mayor in a very long time. That a Republican is running has shaken up the political community in the borough.
”This person can win and win big time,” said one political insider who did not want to be identified. “She’s a pillar of the community and a big time player.”
She has also crossed community lines, with many of her campaign support staff coming from the township.
Ms. Jachera can be a unifying force for the community and the community’s relationship with Princeton University, said B.F. Graham, a township unaffiliated voter and supporter of Ms. Jachera.
”I would like to see somebody become the mayor of Princeton who will heal the town-gown relationship,” she said.
Ms. Jachera was one of the first people Ms. Graham met when she moved to Princeton.
”As a citizen I think the town-gown relationship has become dysfunctional, embarrassing and unsustainable and we the citizens of Princeton need to have a mayor who will transform that relationship into something dynamic, vibrant and of benefit to the entire community. And Jill is the perfect person for that.”
”I am a township Democrat and I am in full support of Jill,” said Kim Phelan, her campaign treasurer. “Thoughtful intelligent leadership knows no party lines and what the township and the borough need is someone who will bring people together and find solutions and Jill’s experience and skill set are unsurpassed in being able to do this.”
”She is representing the borough, so she will not sell the borough out down the line, she will do what is best for the borough,” added Ms. Phelan, who knows Ms. Jachera from the YWCA and Princeton Charter School, where their children attend school.
”It’s a unique time in the community,” said Ms. Jachera. “Without an incumbent running and the PCDO not endorsing either of the candidates and the tension in the community, I felt the time might be right for a person with a different political philosophy.”
”We are at a crossroads in the community with consolidation, the town-gown relationship and taxes,” said Ms. Jachera.
Ms. Jachera is a retired attorney and has been involved with the YWCA.
”I’m reaching across party lines to get the best people,” she said. “I just want what is best for our community.”
The Democrats usually choose their candidates and support them, which is the opposite of the Republicans. Each candidate is encouraged to formulate their own campaign and opinions on the issue, said Dudley Sipprelle, chair of the Princeton Borough Republican Committee.
”For the primary we don’t anoint, appoint or endorse,” he said. “We let them make their points to the electorate. This is a spontaneous grass-roots type of candidacy,” he said, noting she was approached by unhappy Democrats.
She decided after having enough people across all party lines that she would be a candidate.
”I will vote for her and support her as an individual. The Republican Party is not supporting anyone in the primary. I think she will be a good leader and the borough scene is lacking that.”
”I think it’s great, particularly in Princeton, and Jill is a fusion candidate who can get support across the political spectrum. And from what I understand from her she is conservative.”
The Democratic slate already has two declared candidates.
Councilman David Goldfarb and Yina Moore are challenging each other for the Democratic ticket. Neither garnered enough votes to secure the endorsement of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization in April.
There is also a full slate for the council seats. Candidates are Councilwoman Barbara Trelstad and Heather Howard. The Republicans candidates for council are Peter Marks and Dudley Sipprelle.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

