The Princeton Council political primary contests, set for June 7, are shaping up to be low-key inasmuch as none of the candidates seeking their party’s nomination are facing competition.
Incumbent Princeton Council members Michelle Pirone Lambros and Mia Sacks, both Democrats, are the only candidates for two open seats on the Princeton Council. They were endorsed by the Princeton Community Democratic Organization and received the support of the Princeton Municipal Democratic Committee for placement on the ballot in the June 7 primary.
No one has filed to seek the Republican Party nomination for the two open seats.
In seeking the endorsements of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization and the Princeton Democratic Municipal Committee, Lambros and Sacks outlined their accomplishments in their first term in office.
“It has been an extraordinary two years in office which, for Mia and I, was spent nearly the entire time on Zoom. I’m not sure if it was because of COVID or in spite of COVID, but we have managed to somehow be incredibly productive,” Lambros said.
Among those accomplishments was the creation of a Special Improvement District to help the revitalization of the town’s businesses and that also seeks to support the expansion of minority and women-owned businesses, she said.
Housing affordability is another issue facing Princeton – particularly middle-income housing.
“In order to assure we maintain and support greater diversity in our town, we need to eliminate exclusionary zoning practices. We need to build more affordable housing and we need to have more middle income housing – both rentals and for-sale properties,” Lambros said.
Also, to better suit the diverse needs of residents, “we are exploring the feasibility of a community center and we are looking for ways to invest more in our parks and recreational amenities,” she said.
Lambros and Sacks, along with their Princeton Council colleagues, are assigned to sit on assorted boards and committees each year. They also serve as liaisons to community groups.
Currently, Sacks and Lambros serve on the Princeton Council’s Communications, Governance, Affordable Housing, Planning & Redevelopment, and Finance committees, and the Princeton University negotiations team.
Sacks chairs the Affordable Housing, Planning & Redevelopment Committee. Sacks also is the Princeton Council’s representative to the Princeton Planning Board.
Sacks is the chair of the Infrastructure & Operations and Legal committees, and also serves on the Personnel Committee. She works with the Public Transit Advisory Committee and with Traffic Safety.
Sacks is the Princeton Council’s liaison to the school board, Sustainable Princeton and the Friends of Herrontown Woods.
Lambros chairs the Communications and Finance committees.
Lambros, who is the fire commissioner, also serves on the Public Safety, Recreation and Economic Development committees. She is the liaison to the Princeton Merchants Association and also works with the Public Arts and Transit Trust Fund groups.