Democrats Retain Hold in Borough, Township

Matthew Hersh

Princeton Borough Democrats retained their 11-year hold on Borough government with a decisive victory Tuesday night that saw David Goldfarb win his sixth consecutive three-year-term and Mildred Trotman her eighth. The race was decidedly closer in the Township as Democrats Bernie Miller, the deputy mayor seeking his second full term on Township Committee, and newcomer Vicky Bergman, beat out first-time Republican candidates Thomas Pyle and Gordon Bryant.

With 100 percent of the voting districts reporting Tuesday night nearly three hours after polls closed, Ms. Trotman's 1,728 votes and Mr. Goldfarb's 1,629 votes easily topped Independent Joshua Leinsdorf's 748. Unofficial tallies (excluding absentee ballots) in the Township showed Mr. Miller, with 2,894 votes, and Ms. Bergman, with 2,891, winning over Mr. Pyle's 2,358 and Mr. Bryant's 2,365. But it was close: far closer than the decisive two-to-one margin of Mayor Phyllis Marchand's and Committeeman Lance Liverman's 2004 victories.

After her victory, Ms. Bergman, who encouraged residents to "stop me at McCaffrey's" to talk, said: "I like knowing what people think and I like solving problems."

Mr. Pyle and Mr. Bryant focused their campaigns largely on the rising property tax issue, one that resonated with moderates and Independents.

But Mr. Miller, who maintained throughout the election season that the Township had spent within its means, said the win was encouraging. "Princeton voters, once again, are voting in favor of good government, they've recognized that local government is important."

On the property tax issue, Mr. Miller agreed with his opponents that it was important with Township voters, and said that he would use his second term addressing what had emerged as a pivotal platform in this year's election season.

With Republican Doug Forrester conceding the election to Sen. Jon S. Corzine in the gubernatorial race, according to Associated Press, Mr. Corzine held a firm 54 to 43 percent lead with 85 percent of the state's precincts reporting. In the 15th District Assembly race, with 100 percent of districts reporting, Democratic incumbents Reed Gusciora and Bonnie Watson Coleman handily defeated Republicans Robert McCready and Tom Mavis by nearly 20 percent margins.