June 6, 2018

Niedergang, Williamson Win Democratic Primary For Princeton Council

By Donald Gilpin & Anne Levin

In yesterday’s primary election, Democrats Eve Niedergang and Dwaine Williamson earned the highest number of votes for two open seats on Princeton Council. According to unofficial results, Niedergang won 2,363 votes, while Williamson got 1,792. The two seats are to be vacated at the end of the year by longtime Council members Heather Howard and Lance Liverman.

Also vying for the posts on the Council were Democrats Michelle Pirone Lambros, who earned 892 votes; Surinder Paul Sharma, who received 573; and Adam Bierman, who got 514. Alvin McGowen, who dropped out of the race but was on the ballot, earned 140 votes. Lisa Wu, the lone Republican running, will represent her party in the November election.

Niedergang received the Princeton Community Democratic Organization endorsement for Council, while Williamson earned the organization’s support for Council. They both also won the Princeton Democratic Municipal Committee’s vote to determine recommended ballot placement.

Democratic Congresswoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman, who represents New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District, ran unopposed. In the November election she will face Republican Daryl Kipnis, who was also unopposed in yesterday’s primary.

Voters also cast ballots for the United States Senate, with Democrats Robert Menendez earning 59 percent at press time and Lisa A. McCormick receiving 41 percent. On the Republican side, Bob Hugin received 82 percent of the votes and Brian D. Goldberg got 18 percent.

Running unopposed for Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders were Democrats Ann M. Cannon, Samuel T. Frisby Sr., and Pasquale “Pat” Colavita. Republicans running unopposed for Freeholder were Michael Silvestri, Mary R. Walker, and Andrew Curcio.

Niedergang, a Princeton resident since 1985, works at the Watershed Institute and had her own business in educational testing for several years. This is her first time running for a government post. Williamson, who was born in Jamaica and grew up in Trenton, is an attorney in private practice. He is a member of the town’s Planning Board and chairs the Zoning Amendment Review Committee.