Voters oust incumbent councilman in Princeton Democratic primary (updated with mail-in votes)

Two newcomers, Mia Sacks (l) and Michelle Pirone Lambros (r) defeated the incumbent in the Princeton Democratic primary on Tuesday. The results are unofficial.

In the Democratic primary, voters ousted incumbent Princeton Councilman Tim Quinn, instead endorsing two newcomers — Mia Sacks and Michele Pirone Lambros.

Sacks was the top vote-getter with 1,771 votes, with all 22 districts reporting. Pirone Lambros came in second place with 1,445 votes. Quinn had 1,280 votes. Fourteen people voted for personal choices. The results are unofficial. The results include mail-in ballots, but not provisional ballots.

The results were seen by some as a referendum on Mayor Liz Lempert and the Princeton Council. Quinn, who is serving the last year of his first term, was endorsed by several current and former governing body members, and was the only candidate endorsed by Lempert and Council President Jenny Crumiller in an ad in the local newspaper. Sacks also was endorsed by several current and former officials. Pirone Lambros was endorsed by four former Princeton mayors, several other current and former officials, and Mercer County Freeholder Andrew Koontz. The problematic parking meter roll out was cited by some voters as a top issue, as was the health of the downtown business area, concerns about Princeton Theological Seminary’s redevelopment plans for its Stockton campus, the recent sewer department scandal, and responsiveness by local government to citizen concerns and feedback.

Sacks and Pirone Lambros will face independent Adam Bierman in the November general election. It is unclear whether any other independents have filed to run and whether a Republican received enough write-in votes to run in the general election. We will update this story as more information becomes available.

7 Comments

  1. It’s interesting that mail-in votes were in the 20-25% range. My polling station was pretty empty yesterday.

  2. Pirone Lambros should stay clear of the Lempert machine. She was elected because of her independence. She came in last in the PCDO poll, but won the Primary. Princeton voters are desperate for change. November is coming.

  3. There is no Lempert machine. I know all the current Council members and they are all firmly committed to doing what’s best for Princeton residents. Fresh faces are always welcome to bring ideas and to challenge the status quo. Thanks to Tim Quinn for his service to our town.

  4. There is a Lempert machine and incumbent Tim Quinn, a loyal cog, was ousted Tuesday.

  5. And the Lempert machine is loyal first to the university. During Lemperts time as mayor, the university took over the former dinky station, moved the train station, moved Wawa, and continues to buy properties and take them off the tax rolls. All to the detriment of taxpayers. Time to shake things so taxpayers come first.

  6. Former Borough Council gave away the Dinky station and public transit easement. Not sure Liz Lempert has superpowers (machine? really?) if her candidate came in third.

  7. If the Mayor’s endorsed candidate came in third, it means the wheels are coming off the Lempert machine. Spoiler Alert: Voter Revolt.

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