Buono emerges as candidate to challenge Christie for N.J. governor

The Princeton Community Democratic Organization voted to endorse state senator Barbara Buono as a candidate for New Jersey governor on Sunday evening in the Suzanne Patterson Center.

Buono is seeking the New Jersey Democratic Party’s candidacy for the November gubernatorial election.

Mayor Liz Lempert also outlined the year’s priorities for the community at the meeting, announcing that they will be finalized later this month.

Buono, who was not present at the meeting, will appear at the next monthly PCDO meeting in March. In her absence, Assemblyman Jason O’Donnell spoke on Buono’s behalf, urging PCDO members to remember “why we should be upset with Governor [Chris] Christie’s administration.”

O’Donnell said that Buono “embodies the middle class” and will defend its interests.

“She’s very aggressive,” O’Donnell said. “You’ll see she’s an absolute fighter.”

He outlined Buono’s plan of action, including her initiatives to reinvest in New Jersey infrastructure, fully adopt the Affordable Healthcare Act and put more money into education. He also addressed Governor Christie’s 70 percent approval rating following Hurricane Sandy, saying that it will not discourage Buono or prevent her from being elected.

Lempert spoke in the remaining 15 minutes on the town’s priorities for the coming year. In the past month, Lempert and the town council have collected submissions from the public about what issues should be addressed this year. She indicated that the priorities will formally be adopted at a meeting on Feb. 25.

Among the priorities enumerated by Lempert were the restoration of neighborhood policing, an assessment of public works, and a look at affordable housing. Lempert said that the priorities list will function as a “living document” because it is subject to change and addition and will address what will be done by the government in the next month, six months and year.

Townspeople in attendance raised additional issues including access to healthcare given the movement of the University Medical Center of Princeton, congestion on Route 1 and the development of the town government following consolidation.

Freeholders Anthony P. Carabelli and Andrew Koontz requested endorsements to continue serving on the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Carabelli, a Georgetown University graduate with a masters degree in public administration, has served as a freeholder for 33 years, and Koontz, a New York University graduate with a fine arts degree, served as municipal chair of the former Princeton Borough. Both the freeholders and Buono were endorsed by PCDO in a unanimous vote, with all members voting “aye.”

Both Carabelli and Koontz spoke on the revival of the Mercer County Airport in Ewing, expressing strong support for a renovation of the terminal to accommodate more passengers. Koontz explained that in addition to maintaining the airport, the county is looking to relocate a few train terminals to allow connections between several surrounding towns and New Jersey Transit.

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Given the hope for improved transportation and its implications, Koontz characterized Ewing as “perhaps Mercer County’s brightest spot in terms of looking for development and for exciting things to happen.”