Politics & Government

Borough Council Candidate: Jo Butler

Patch asked each of the candidates a series of questions, here are their responses.


Name: 
Jo Butler

Street of Residence: 
Hibben Road

Occupation:  
Senior Consultant, Wickenden Associates  

Previous Government Service:  

Borough Council (2011-present)  

  • 2012 – Transition Task Force representative (Public Safety, Personnel, IT and Infrastructure & Operations subcommittees), Public Safety Committee and Personnel Committee for the Borough, Liaison to Traffic & Transportation and PJBAC. 
  • 2011 – Liaison to Health Commission, Recreation Board, Corner House Board and Princeton Alcohol and Drug Alliance

 

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Other Civic Experience:  

  • People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos, past Board member
  • Friends of the Princeton Public Library, past Secretary, Chair of Annual Fundraiser and Auction Chair
  • past Co-Chair of CommonGround
  • various volunteer positions at my children’s schools


Why do you want to represent Princeton on Council?  

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Jenny Crumiller and I co-founded the Citizens Finance Advisory Taskforce, and we were among the first to publicly sound the alarm on rising taxes.  In no small measure, our efforts resulted in a zero increase in municipal taxes for the last four years.  I want to continue to bring fiscal responsibility to our consolidated government.  We have the opportunity to deliver improved services, but it will require fiscal discipline and know-how to do it at the lowest possible cost.  If we want to preserve diversity, we must keep Princeton affordable for all.  I am in the second year of my first term, so I believe I have the experience and energy necessary to set our new Princeton on the best possible course for all residents.

What differentiates you from my opponents?  
 

I serve on the Public Safety subcommittee of the Transition Task Force and the Borough Pubic Safety Committee, so I believe that I actually have the knowledge, experience and judgment to deliver on the promises consolidation.  Our single largest expenditure is our police force, and it is where we hope to achieve two-thirds of our potential savings.  I also serve on the subcommittee examining the merger of the two Departments of Public Works.  If we are to deliver improved services at the lowest possible cost, this is where the rubber meets the road.  I am the only candidate serving on these two critical committees.  I can deliver on the promise of consolidation.

If elected, what are your TWO top priorities for Princeton and specifically what will you do to make those a reality? 

  1. Right size the police force. The Consolidation Commission recommended a three-year process to right size the police force. Given that this represents two-thirds of the potential savings from consolidation, it is imperative that we maintain discipline with regard to the recommendations. It is a process that will require constant monitoring and evaluation. No one wants to sacrifice the safety of our community. I am committed to achieving the right size police force as well as appropriate structure. We need to continue the positive, productive dialogue we have started with Princeton University to improve communication between police and Campus Safety so we all benefit.  I will push for the creation of a Public Safety Committee for the new community to serve as a collaborative partner and to provide oversight, much as we have done in the Borough.
  2. Create a Parks Department. In my role as liaison to the Rec Board last year, I came to believe that we need a Parks Department to manage our active parks as well as our passive parks, and consolidation represents an opportunity to make that happen.  We have invested a tremendous amount of money in our open space assets.  We need to begin to maintain these parks and open spaces in a way that has not been done to date. This year we opened the new Community Park Pool on time and on budget.  I was instrumental in ending the debate on Borough Council and moving the project forward.  I will continue to advocate for protection for our parks and recreation programs.


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