Democratic Party candidates Mia Sacks and Michelle Pirone Lambros claimed victory in the Princeton Council election for a pair of seats on the governing body in the Nov. 5 general election.
Sacks and Lambros, who received 4,238 votes and 4,111 votes, respectively, edged out challenger Adam Bierman, who ran as an independent candidate. He earned 1,092 votes.
The vote results are unofficial and have not been certified by the Mercer County clerk.
Sacks and Lambros will fill the Princeton Council seats held by Princeton Council members Jenny Crumiller and Tim Quinn. The term is for three years.
Crumiller did not seek re-election. Quinn lost his bid for nomination in the June Democratic primary.
Lambros thanked voters for supporting her and electing her to the Princeton Council, citing the team effort that made it possible in the primary and general elections.
“I look forward to serving Princeton and I am so grateful for the confidence that community has demonstrated in my abilities,” Lambros said.
Bierman, who came up short in the vote tally, congratulated Sacks and Lambros on their victory. He also thanked his supporters.
“We are neighbors with the same basic interests that go beyond partisanship. We want to make Princeton livable through enhancing the quality of life, affordability and the maintenance of excellent public schools at a reasonable cost,” Bierman said.
Sacks and Lambros have advocated for changing zoning regulations to allow for an accessory dwelling unit, or an apartment, within single-family houses. The income would help residents to remain in their homes by offsetting rising property taxes.
Revised zoning also would encourage duplexes and multi-family buildings that would allow for flexible living arrangements to keep the town affordable for the middle class, Lambros said.
Sacks said she would like to focus on undertaking a comprehensive review and update of the town’s Master Plan to reflect the consolidated Princeton. The former Princeton Borough and the former Princeton Township merged in 2013. Each had its own Master Plan.
Sacks said she would like to include an economic development element in the updated Master Plan. Genuine and lasting economic health for the town requires planning for, and balancing the needs, of all sectors, she said.
Those needs include housing, transportation and schools, as well as the Central Business District, Sacks said.
Lambros wants to focus on increasing commercial revenue and seeking a larger voluntary payment from Princeton University in order to reduce the property tax burden on property owners.
Becoming a more business-friendly town would help to increase revenue from commercial properties, she said. She suggested streamlining regulations that hinder the creation and success of new businesses, such as reducing signage requirements and reducing the cost of permit fees and the time that it takes to obtain a permit.