Lempert Announces Mayoral Candidacy for Consolidated Princeton

Lempert

Princeton Township Deputy Mayor Liz Lempert has announced her candidacy for mayor of the consolidated Princeton in the June 5 Democratic Primary election.

“The next few years offer a great opportunity to show how we can continue to build on the consolidation of our two municipalities – Princeton Borough and Princeton Township – and remake ourselves into a Princeton that will be stronger, more vibrant and even more extraordinary than before,” Lempert said in a press release announcing her candidacy. “I want to make sure consolidation works well for all residents.  If we do it right, we’ll be a model for others – a fitting role for a town with such a renowned history.”

Lempert said she decided to run after being strongly encouraged by several leaders in both the Borough and Township.

“Liz is the right person at the right time,” Borough Councilwoman Heather Howard said in the press release. “She has the ability and temperament to bring together Borough and Township and lead during this critical period.”

Township Mayor Chad Goerner has also thrown his support behind Lempert.

“I wholeheartedly endorse Liz for mayor,” he said in the release. “She has a strong record on Township Committee – from her leadership on preserving the Princeton Ridge to holding the line on the budget. Liz makes sure that she listens to all sides of an argument, but when push comes to shove, she knows how to make decisions and get things done.”

Lempert volunteered for the Obama campaign four yaers ago and became co-chair of the 3,500-member grassroots group, Mercer for Obama.

“What I enjoyed most about the Obama campaign was finding meaningful ways for people to contribute that took advantage of their special skills, expertise and interests,” she said. “The experience taught me how to direct a large, diverse group of people in a collaborative way.”

Lempert has served for three years on Township Committee and was chosen by the committee to be deputy mayor earlier this month. She serves on the Princeton Regional Planning Board, the joint finance committee, the citizens finance committee, the environmental commission, the joint pedestrian and bike committee, and the traffic safety committee. She also serves on the Friends of the Princeton Public Library’s executive board and is a founding member of the public school advocacy group Save Our Schools-NJ.

A graduate of Stanford University, Lempert worked for several years as an engineer in Silicon Valley and Boston before becoming a science journalist. She spent over a decade working as an editor and producer for the National Public Radio program “Living On Earth.” She her husband Ken Norman, who works at Princeton University, have two daughters who attend Littlebrook Elementary and John Witherspoon Middle School.