Jachera Accepts Republican Nomination for Borough Mayor

Partisan politics have been a fixture in Princeton for far too long, says Jill Jachera.

“On November 8, I want to give the citizens of Princeton a better choice, a choice that does not perpetuate the status quo,” Jachera said.

On Tuesday Jachera won the Republican nomination for borough mayor through a last-minute write-in campaign. She accepted the nomination at a campaign kickoff event on Wednesday.

No Republican has run for borough mayor in 12 years and it’s time for a change, she said.

Jachera believes that leadership will drive Princeton’s success.  

“I have lived here for over 16 years and during that time I have watched property taxes spiral out of control, friends and businesses move out of Princeton and the town/gown relationship become more and more dysfunctional” Jachera told about 50 supporters at the Nassau Inn on Wednesday.

She believes the biggest issues facing the borough are high property taxes, consolidation and the borough’s relationship with the university.

Jachera’s husband, Fernando Guerrero said Princeton lacks political debate.

“It is with great pride that I introduce you to a woman who has had the courage to take on a monumental challenge in an effort to restore that political debate and provide the leadership that this town so desperately needs,” Guerrero said.

Jachera is a retired employment law attorney and now a part-time training consultant for employment matters. She is a member of the Princeton YWCA board, is involved her son’s Boy Scout troop, her daughter’s Girl Scout Troop and the Princeton Charter School.

She will face Democratic challenger Yina Moore in November and acknowledges the challenge ahead.

“I recognize that I have a huge mountain to climb so I will need your help,” Jachera said. “Whether it is hosting get togethers, going door to door with me, writing letters tot het editor, working the phone banks, stuffing envelopes or just spreading the world, no volunteer is too old, to young or too inexperienced to work on our campaign.”

Borough resident Robert J. Gleason came out to support Jachera.

“I think we need a change,” he said. “I think we need consolidation and I think we need to restructure the budget.”