Incumbent Princeton Council members David Cohen and Leticia Fraga appear to have turned back challenger Dina Shaw for the Democratic Party nominations to run for two council seats in the Nov. 3 general election.
Results that were available immediately following the July 7 primary election showed that Democratic Party voters gave 2,174 votes to Fraga and 1,937 votes to Cohen. Shaw received 1,304 votes.
Vote by mail ballots may be counted through July 15 and once that count occurs, the final results of the primary will be known.
Democratic Party voters gave Mark Freda 3,048 votes for the party’s nomination to run for mayor. He ran unopposed in the primary.
No Republicans filed a nominating petition to run for mayor or council.
A council term is for three years and the mayor’s term is for four years.
Cohen and Fraga are completing their first terms on the council. Mayor Liz Lempert chose not to run for re-election. She is completing her second term as mayor. All are Democrats.
Cohen said he was running for re-election because he believes continuity in government is essential for smooth functioning. There has been “enormous turnover” on the council, he said.
Fraga, who is the first Latinx to serve on the council, said she has focused on affordability, equity, sustainability and quality of life. She said she sees a second term as an opportunity to build on the momentum, good will and expertise she developed in her first term.
Freda, who served 13 years on the former Princeton Borough Council before Princeton Borough and Princeton Township consolidated in 2012, said the goal of his campaign is transparency and open government. He seeks to promote timely, two-way communication with residents on important issues.