Princeton Township Deputy Mayor Liz Lempert is the first local official to announce her candidacy for mayor of a consolidated Princeton in the upcoming Democratic Primary election on June 5.

“The next few years offer a great opportunity to show how we can continue to build on the consolidation of our two municipalities — Princeton Borough and Princeton Township — and remake ourselves into a Princeton that will be stronger, more vibrant, and even more extraordinary than before,” said Ms. Lempert. “I want to make sure consolidation works well for all residents. If we do it right, we’ll be a model for others — a fitting role for a town with such a renowned history.”

Ms. Lempert was an early proponent of consolidation. In announcing her candidacy for Township Committee member in 2009 she noted that “this is … an opportunity to look for smart ways to save money, improve efficiency, and think big. I’d like to work with the other members of the Township Committee and Borough Council towards consolidation, affordability, sustainability, and open government that encourages citizens to participate and contribute their ideas and knowledge.”

Ms. Lempert’s current departmental assignments include membership on the Environmental Commission; the Traffic Safety Committee; the Joint Sidewalk and Bikeways Committee; the Flood and Stormwater Management Committee; and the Citizens’ Finance Advisory Committee.

She is also the mayor’s appointee to the Regional Planning Board, and a trustee of the Joint Transportation Fund.

She serves as well on the Friends of the Princeton Public Library’s executive board, and is a founding member of the grassroots public school advocacy group Save Our Schools-N.J.

The Stanford graduate traces her interest in local government to her work as co-chair of Mercer for Obama, a 3,500 member grassroots group that campaigned for Barack Obama’s election as president. “I helped to build a network of volunteers, many of us new to the political process and eager to make a difference,” she said.

“What I enjoyed most about the Obama campaign was finding meaningful ways for people to contribute that took advantage of their special skills, expertise, and interests,” she added. “The experience taught me how to direct a large and diverse group of people in a collaborative way.”

Ms. Lempert and her husband, Ken Norman, have lived in Princeton since 2002. Their youngest daughter attends Littlebrook Elementary School and her older sister is at John Witherspoon Middle School.

A north California native, Ms. Lempert worked as a producer and editor for National Public Radio’s environmental news show, Living on Earth, first in Cambridge, Massachusetts, then Boulder, Colorado, before settling in Princeton. “My experience as a journalist trained me to find information quickly, assimilate differing points of view, and be open to listening — skills I’ve found useful on the Committee,” she commented.

“I wholeheartedly endorse Liz for mayor,” said Township Mayor Chad Goerner, who recently announced that he would not run for the position. “She has a strong record on Township Committee — from her leadership on preserving the Princeton Ridge to holding the line on the budget. Liz makes sure that she listens to all sides of an argument, but when push comes to shove, she knows how to make decisions and get things done.”

In addition to the enthusiastic backing of Township Committee members, Ms. Lempert has drawn support from officials and residents in the Borough. “Liz is the right person at the right time,” said Councilwoman Heather Howard. “She has the ability and temperament to bring together Borough and Township and lead during this critical period.”

“Liz cares about our community,” said Claire Jacobus, former chair of the Human Services Commission and longtime Borough resident. “When there was an effort to eliminate local services for the least fortunate in our town, Liz worked tirelessly to make sure that didn’t happen.”