Princeton Packet, Friday, September 2, 2005
Council race shaping up as low-key affair
By Marjorie Censer, Staff Writer
As election campaign season kicks into gear, Princeton Borough Council veterans will be challenged by newcomer Joshua Leinsdorf, an independent who will be in the Republican column on the ballot.
Mr. Leinsdorf, a member of the Princeton Regional Board of Education, did not participate in a primary, but he received 23 write-in votes, enough to earn a spot on the ballot.
His opponents, Councilman David Goldfarb and Council President Mildred Trotman, likely will not host a large fundraiser, Mr. Goldfarb said. Councilman Andrew Koontz, re-elected last year, will serve as campaign manager for the two.
Both Mr. Goldfarb and Ms. Trotman said they do not plan to campaign door-to-door. As long time members of the council - Mr. Goldfarb for 15 years, Ms. Trotman for 21 - they said that members of the community already know them and how to reach them.
"I've interacted with so many people," Mr. Goldfarb said. "It's not like we're taking it for granted. It's just that we think people know us well."
Ms. Trotman explained that a back problem stemming from three car accidents prevents her from campaigning door-to-door, but she said she will speak to borough residents over the phone.
"Enough people reach out to me, Republicans or Democrats," Ms. Trotman said.
Mr. Goldfarb said they will likely raise some money and use funds left over from previous campaigns.
"I'm not expecting it to be an expensive campaign," he said.
Mr. Leinsdorf, while planning to campaign, also does not expect to spend significant amounts of money. He said he will fundraise in order to place ads in local newspapers, but does not think money will define the race.
"money is an issue, but it's not a big problem," he said, "because money doesn't buy you votes in Princeton."
Mr. Leinsdorf said he and his supporters will canvass neighborhoods to meet people.
"The borough is small enough," he explained. "And the people in Princeton are very, very knowledgeable."
Though he has not been endorsed by a party and does not expect to be, Mr. Leinsdorf said he anticipates earning votes from all sides. He said local Republican officials have not contacted him, and he does not plan to call them.
"Basically, the Republican leadership is supporting the Democrats this year," he said. "Nobody's called me."
Pat Strazza, the Republican municipal chairwoman, said there are no plans for an endorsement. She said she had not spoken with Mr. Leinsdorf, but he could contact the committee.
Already, Mr. Leinsdorf said, members of the community have reached out to him.
"People are concerned, and they want to be able to do something," he said.
He has said that his platform will focus on the complacency of the council and its unresponsiveness to borough residents. He has criticized the council's approval of the downtown redevelopment and its parking permit system for high school students. Mr. Leinsdorf hopes to integrate the school bus system and the public transit system.
"It's got to be an issue oriented campaign," he said. "That's what's really needed."
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