Lambros announces N.J. Assembly bid

Princeton Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros has announced that she will run in the Democratic primary as a candidate for the New Jersey Assembly in the 16th District.

Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker is running for State Senate, leaving an opening for newcomers in the Assembly. Zwicker formally announced his bid for the senate seat after Sen. Kip Bateman announced his retirement.

Lambros, who has served on the Princeton council for 14 months, is the second Princeton resident who will seek the Assembly seat. Princeton scientist and musician Chris Fistonich announced his candidacy last month. Other Democrats are expected to formally announce their candidacies in the coming days, including former Montgomery mayor Sadaf Jaffer and Flemington Council President Caitlin Giles-McCormick. Fellow Democrat Roy Frieman will also seek a second term as an assemblyman.

“I believe my business skills will be useful in navigating through the complexities of legislative initiatives,” Lambros said in a written statement about her candidacy. “I lead through collaboration and my impact on council and the amount of progress we were able to make, during the most challenging health and economic crisis of our lifetime, attests to my ability to get things done.”

Lambros’ platform includes a focus on economic revitalization, tourism, transit infrastructure, sustainable development, improving family leave policies, expanding fair wage legislation, enacting liquor license reform, simplifying and expanding the senior tax freeze, and funding small business revitalization efforts.