By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
Princeton Councilwoman Jenny Crumiller will be given a leadership post on the governing body next year when she becomes council president replacing Lance Liverman.
The promotion does not officially occur until Jan.4, the day of the annual reorganization meeting of the council. But officials said Wednesday that the job is hers.
Council president does not have any special powers, although she will be the first in line to serve as acting mayor in case Mayor Liz Lempert is out of town. The job also will give her greater access to information at agenda setting meetings for regular council meetings.
Ms. Crumiller said Wednesday it would enable her “to be more in the loop.”
In terms of an agenda for the next year, she talked of looking at ways to slow down traffic in town, and expressed concern for the budget with the possibility of a municipal tax hike.
“I think she’ll do a good job,” Mayor Lempert said.
Fellow Councilwoman Jo S. Butler, one of Ms. Crumiller’s political allies, said she was “delighted” to see Ms. Crumiller take this step. She pointed to how Ms. Crumiller has the time, the experience in borough government and no conflict of interests with Princeton University.
Ms. Crumiller, a Democrat, was first elected to Borough Council in 2009. She won a seat in 2012 to join the governing body of the consolidated municipality and has been re-elected two more times since then, including last month to another three-year-term.
Originally from Delaware, Ms. Crumiller, 57, has lived in Princeton since 1991.
In some corners of the Princeton Democratic Party, she is viewed as a controversial figure. A faction aligned with her and her husband, Jon, have butted heads with a faction aligned with Mayor Lempert and, previously, former township mayor Chad Goerner.
But on Wednesday, Ms. Crumiller and Mayor Lempert dismissed talk of any feud.
“There was never a cold war,” Ms. Crumiller said, while Mayor Lempert said, “I consider Jenny one of my political mentors.”
On relations with Nassau Hall, Ms. Crumiller notably opposed the relocation of the NJ Transit Dinky train and voted against the rezoning Nassau Hall had wanted for the arts and transit neighborhood. Ms. Crumiller said that some perceive her as “anti-university,” a characterization that she rejects.
“I want to continue our good working relationship – which, believe it or not, we have,” she said of town-gown relations.
As for the man she is replacing, Mr. Liverman held the post this year. But he said he found it became “too much” to juggle those responsibilities plus work with his church, among other things.
“No one asked me to step down,” he said.
Mayor Lempert said Mr. Liverman had reached out to Ms. Crumiller, because he knew she was interested in the post. In the short time of consolidation, she will be the first woman council president, with Mr. Liverman and, before him, Councilman Bernard P. Miller filling that role.
“I think she’s the next logical choice,” Mr. Miller said.
