Letters: Asking the Tough Questions Takes Courage

So far, there are three candidates running for two slots on the Princeton Council, all neighbors who have Princeton’s best interests at heart.

Of the three, one stands out—Jo Butler. She has revealed a refreshing independence in her service on the Princeton Borough Council and on the newly consolidated Princeton Council. Her service on four subcommittees of the Transition Task  Force for consolidation illustrates her dedication to the public’s business.

Jo Butler doesn’t shoot from the hip—she actually reads the municipal contracts and other materials before she goes to Council meetings, and she understands the fiscal implications because of her background in finance—she has an MBA and has worked in the financial industry.

In a small town where many people know one another on a first-name basis, there is peer pressure to “go along to get along.” Jo Butler is fearless in asking the detailed questions that are so important in forming good public policy.

A recent example is Jo Butler’s advocacy for a committee to review the legal bills for consolidation. Her efforts uncovered billing discrepancies that led to decreased legal fees for the town, saving taxpayers thousands of dollars.

A public servant who is willing to stand out by analyzing the data and asking the tough questions is rare, especially at the local level. That is why Jo Butler has our vote for Princeton Council in the primary election on June 3.

The Princeton Community Democratic Organization (PCDO) will vote to endorse candidates at the meeting on March  30.  If you wish to be included in the process,  be sure to join the PCDO by March 16 (more information at www.princetondems.org/join).

Even more important is your vote on the ballot. In local elections, big decisions are made by the small number of people who actually go to the polls.  Mark your calendar and make your choices by voting in the primary on June 3.

Scotia W. MacRae
Richard S. Blofson