A New Beginning in Princeton

Municipal reorganizations often attract reporters and family members of those being sworn in, but Tuesday's meetings in Princeton were attended by several prominent politicians who came to acknowledge the local milestone of impending consolidation. 

Princeton Borough and Princeton Township's reorganization meetings were the last such meetings for both longtime governments. 

A year from now voters in a consolidated Princeton will elect new members of council and a new mayor, following a hard-fought battle to merge the two Princetons. Consolidation proponents say the merger will save the taxpayers at least $3.1 million a year.

"I think the eyes of New Jersey will be on us this year as we move toward the new Princeton," said Heather Howard, a newly-elected member of Princeton Borough Council. 

Those attending included U.S. Representative Rush Holt, Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes and Mercer County freeholders (including Andrew Koontz of Princeton) and several former local officials. 

Longtime Borough Mayor Mildred Trotman stepped down on Tuesday, thanking the voters for electing and relecting her to office on 10 separate occassions over 27 years. She thanked the Princeton Community Democratic Organization, her colleagues, borough staff and her daughter. 

"This part of the journey is coming an an end for me," said Trotman, who announced her retirement last year. "But I am not going anywhere. I thank you all for coming on this journey with me. And to the mayor-elect, I wish you luck, I think you may need it."

Trotman's last official act was the swearing-in of newly elected Mayor Yina Moore, who announced two new initiatives for her one-year term- a Downtown Neighborhood Commission (made up of businesses and residents) and a University Relations Commission (made up of citizens, elected officials, students, faculty, alumni and administrators). 

Moore described Princeton as a thriving community full of neighborhood diversity, strong public schools and a focus on the arts. She said she looks forward to making the community even stronger. 

"I ask you tonight to choose to work together for a better community rather than let fear and negativity tear us apart," she said. 

Barbara Trelsdad, who was re-elected to Borough Council, was unaninmously elected council president. 

In the Township, Sue Nemeth and Bernie Miller were sworn in as reelected members of Township Committee and Chad Goerner, already a member of council, was unanimously reappointed mayor. 

Liz Lempert was unanimously appointed deputy mayor.

Former New Jersey Gov. Jim Florio gave the oath of office to Goerner and the Mayor thanked Florio afterwards, saying he worked on the former governor's campaign during college and it was Florio who inspired him to pursue politics.