To the Editor:

We write to enthusiastically endorse Leticia Fraga for re-election to town Council. We have known Leticia for at least nine years when she joined us on Princeton’s Human Services Commission. She immediately gave us new perspectives as we worked to address issues facing our town’s most vulnerable residents.

Based on her work as a nine year, full-time civil rights investigator in her home state of Washington, we chose Leticia to chair our subcommittee of Human Services that revived a stand-alone Civil Rights Commission which had enjoyed great success from 1968-98. While it became a subcommittee of Human Services after that, it gradually lost its independence and effectiveness. Revival as an independent Commission required listening to 18 former elected and appointed officials, research into what other towns do, and collaboration with Princeton’s current leadership to make it a reality in 2016.

When she moved to Princeton in 1999, Leticia soon joined her school PTAs. She has 15-year-old twins who have attended PPS starting in kindergarten. Before that, they attended pre-school at the Jewish Center. Her adult daughter graduated from PHS.

Leticia’s skills and accomplishments go far beyond her civil rights work. Underlying them all is her ability and willingness to listen and consider fairly all points of view. These skills are what have made her work on Council so successful since first elected in the fall of 2017. Leticia is currently Council liaison to Public Safety (she serves as the town’s police commissioner and has worked closely with Chief Sutter, including provision of better stop and arrest demographics); the Health Department (including expanding hours of the “well baby clinic”); and to the Human Services and Civil Rights Commissions. She also serves on the Personnel and Youth Advisory Committees, and assists the Economic Development Committee.

Leticia currently chairs the 2020 Census Princeton Complete Count Committee (CCC). They are working to develop outreach, education, and assistance to ensure maximum participation of our residents, including those who are historically undercounted. For the next decade, results of the 2020 Census will determine representation in the state and federal legislatures, and the amount of funding we will be eligible to receive for community services, grants, and school lunches.

She does not shy away from difficult tasks, where it is almost impossible to please everyone. Leticia chairs the Permit Parking Task Force (PPTF) which aims to address the parking needs of residents, visitors, and employees of local businesses. They have reviewed the current system, conducted research on best practices implemented by other communities, and solicited input through online surveys and at neighborhood meetings.

Through all this public service work, starting in Washington state, and now in Princeton for over 20 years, Leticia Fraga has demonstrated time and again her commitment to fairness, an open mind, hard work and tenacity. This is why we will vote for Leticia in the PCDO endorsement vote on Sunday, March 15, and hope that you will too!

John Heilner
Howe Circle

Larry Spruill
Oak Lane