The return of incumbent Princeton Councilman Leighton Newlin and the election of newcomer Brian McDonald in the Nov. 5 general election has been confirmed.
The final vote tallies were certified by Mercer County officials and released Nov. 21. The certified vote tally includes early voting, Election Day voting, mail-in ballots and provisional ballots.
Newlin picked up 861 more votes to bring his final tally to 9,827 votes. McDonald got an additional 863 votes, for a final vote count of 9,887 votes.
The two Democrats ran unopposed for a three-year term on the Princeton Council. The Republican Party did not field candidates for the two open Princeton Council seats.
Newlin said he sought re-election so he could continue to work on the issues that he feels are important – from housing to social services, public safety, transportation and mobility.
“Serving on the Princeton Council has deepened my understanding of local governance, and I am eager to apply this knowledge to continue to make meaningful changes,” he said.
Through his weekly “Leighton Listens” sessions at local businesses, Newlin tries to reach out to the community. He sets up shop at a business in town where residents can drop by and hold one-on-one conversations with him. It also highlights and supports many of the small businesses.
Looking ahead to his second term, Newlin said he wants to increase the town’s stock of affordable housing for very low-, low- and moderate-income households.
He also wants to address the challenges posed by absentee landlords and to examine the impact of Airbnb and transient housing on the community.
Newlin said he wants to help reshape the Princeton Housing Authority, with an eye toward supporting underserved and marginalized populations.
Newlin also pledged to continue to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion in all decision-making processes.
As one of two people of color on the Princeton Council – himself and Princeton Councilwoman Leticia Fraga – he recognizes the importance of diversity in representation.
“I wake up each day understanding that it is an honor and a privilege to serve the 33,000 residents of Princeton, and my commitment is to be accessible and responsible,” Newlin said.
McDonald is making the transition from the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education to the Princeton Council. He opted to run for an open Princeton Council seat instead of re-election to the school board.
McDonald said he was encouraged to run for a seat on the Princeton Council after Councilwoman Eve Niedergang announced that she would not seek re-election.
Pointing to his many years of volunteer service – from Little League coach to sitting on the Citizens Finance Advisory Committee and the school board – McDonald said he believes he has the knowledge, experience, time and energy to serve on the Princeton Council.
McDonald said his service on the school board would be helpful. He said he could be an effective advocate for greater communication and collaboration between the school district and the town.
“Princeton residents want excellent services and excellent schools. Many families moved here and continue to move here because of our strong public schools,” he said.
Outlining his goals as a Princeton Councilman, McDonald said he would like to ensure that municipal services – which are broad and deep – are delivered as efficiently as possible. They are costly. He said he would use his financial skills and business experience to deliver those services while keeping tax increases as low as possible.
McDonald said he would like to see increased focus on supporting the town’s most vulnerable members – senior citizens, children and residents who are experiencing food, housing and financial insecurity. He said he would work with the schools, non-profit groups, community agencies and nationally known educational institutions to support those residents.
Finally, McDonald said he would like to address climate change by generating less greenhouse gases and ensuring that the natural and man-made environments harmonize as much as possible. His service on the Watershed Institute and Sustainable Princeton boards would be helpful.
