An Early Bird Candidate Seeks Retiring Committeewoman's Seat

Matthew Hersh

Princeton Township resident Lance Liverman, a Democrat, has thrown his hat in the ring in a bid for the seat on Township Committee. Mr. Liverman will contend for the seat that will be vacated by Committeewoman Karen "Casey" Hegener when her term expires in January 2005.

"I'm a true Princetonian," Mr. Liverman, 41, said in an interview Monday. "I've always loved Princeton, and I give back all the time."

The Witherspoon Street resident and Princeton High School graduate has been the vice chairman of the Princeton Human Services Commission for five years. He is also a trustee on the Princeton Community Village Housing Board and on the Arts Council of Princeton's Neighborhood Advisory Committee.

Mr. Liverman also extols the community services provided by his church, the First Baptist Church, of which he is the vice chair of the trustee board.

"I would like to have Princeton remain an inclusive community, one where you hear the name 'Princeton' and say 'I want to live there [because] that's where you're treated well," he said.

"I want to be able to say that we have some of the best roads, best parks, and [that] our taxes aren't killing us in Princeton Township," he added.

On the budget and increased property taxes, Mr. Liverman said he would like to review where and how money is spent. He also questioned if raising property taxes was the best way to underwrite the costs of the Township.

"I would love to examine the budget on my own," he said.

He referred to his real estate venture, Liverman Associates, as a testament to shrewd spending. Mr. Liverman owns several properties in and around the Township.

"I'm very good at spending and getting my money's worth at everything I do," he said. "I'm not a wasteful spender."

Mr. Liverman, his wife LaTonya, and daughter Kelsey, 7, and Ashlyn 3, all agreed running for Committee was "the right thing to do," the candidate said. Interestingly, Mr. Liverman is running for office for the same reasons Committeewoman Hegener is leaving: the interest of family. Further, if elected, Mr. Liverman would be the second individual elected to Committee within a year who would share both a full-time occupational commitment and the full responsibilities of office. Committeeman Bill Hearon, who took his seat on Committee in January, works with a company that evaluates credit transactions. Mr. Hearon filled the seat of Leonard Godfrey, a retiree.

Does this indicate a trend in Township government? Mr. Liverman said there is a benefit to having individuals from various economic stages on the Township governing body. He added that more working residents who were previously uninvolved in the community are becoming more interested and have begun to find time to partake in local government .

"I think people are becoming more aware of their surroundings, people who have never considered [local politics]," he said. "I don't know if it's the economy clamping down, but there's something out there that's getting people involved."

"I'm just here to represent everyone else."

Mr. Liverman will appear at the local candidates night sponsored by the Princeton Community Democratic Organization, on Sunday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Suzanne Patterson Center. Dan Preston, PCDO chair, has already expressed support of Mr. Liverman's candidacy.

Mr. Liverman currently runs unopposed.