In a surprise outcome, former township committeewoman and council candidate Sue Nemeth finished last in the voting on Sunday for an at-large seat on the executive board of the Princeton Community Democratic Or
By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
In a surprise outcome, former township committeewoman and council candidate Sue Nemeth finished last in the voting on Sunday for an at-large seat on the executive board of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization, the party club.
Ms. Nemeth, previously a vice president of the PCDO, was one of 13 candidates vying for 12 at-large seats at the club’s reorganization meeting. Sources said Ms. Nemeth’s vote total was in the low 30s, while the 12 winners finished in the 50s. The result is the talk of Princeton’s political world.
”Sue Nemeth was stonewalled by the general membership of the PCDO,” said one party insider who spoke on the condition of anonymity Monday. “It’s a big thing.”
”It must have been pretty humiliating,” added another Democrat who likewise spoke on the condition of anonymity.
For her part, Ms. Nemeth on Monday congratulated the winners. She declined to respond to any of the political scuttlebutt that began flying around since the club meeting. It is not clear what this could mean for her candidacy for council.
Ms. Nemeth announced earlier this month that she was running with fellow Democrat Council President Bernard P. Miller for two council seats, a move that sets up a contested Democratic primary against incumbent Councilwoman Jo S. Butler.
Ms. Nemeth and Mr. Miller have the endorsement of Mayor Liz Lempert and Council members Lance Liverman and Heather H. Howard. Ms. Butler is running alone.
Sources said the political machinations by Mayor Lempert and her allies have rubbed some within the local Democratic Party the wrong way, unhappy that the endorsement this soon in the process effectively discouraged anyone else from entering the race. “It was a heavy-handed move too early in the season that looks like raw politics and not town interest at heart,” said one Democrat who is supporting Ms. Butler.
Ms. Nemeth’s popularity in the party is another issue. Democrats said there is lingering resentment against her for running a negative campaign against fellow Democrat Marie Corfield in a 2012 primary for a special state Assembly race that Ms. Nemeth lost.
”I am concerned, quite concerned,” Mr. Miller said Monday reacting to Sunday’s outcome.
Ms. Butler, who was at the PCDO meeting, declined to comment Monday about the vote. She offered that she was “staying focused” on her issues and “running on my record.”
Mayor Lempert, asked Monday at her press conference about the vote, declined to comment by saying she would not discuss political issues in the Witherspoon Hall municipal building. “We’re not doing campaigning in this building,” she said. “I’m not talking about the campaign.”
Neither Mr. Liverman nor Ms. Howard returned a phone call seeking comment Monday.
Democrats also have changed the endorsement process of candidates, to give the PCDO a stronger voice. The club now will endorse, while the party’s municipal committee will recommend ballot positions to party chairwoman Elizabeth Muoio.
The endorsement vote is scheduled for March 30 for the June primary.