With 212 votes out of a possible 345, Township Deputy Mayor Liz Lempert easily won the Princeton Community Democratic Organization’s (PCDO) endorsement as candidate in the race for the first mayor of a consolidated Princeton.

Voters in the record-breaking crowd at the Sunday evening meeting at the Princeton Jewish Center gave Ms. Lempert 61.4 percent of the vote; her opponent Kevin Wilkes, received 120 votes, or 34.8 percent. Thirteen people, or 3.8 percent, indicated that they did not want to make an endorsement that evening.

First-term Borough Councilwoman Heather Howard was the big winner among the ten people vying to be endorsed as candidates for six Princeton Council seats. With 353 individuals casting ballots on this question, Ms. Howard received 300 votes, or 85 percent. Candidates who received over 60 percent of the vote were fully endorsed by the PCDO. Candidates receiving 40 percent, but under 60 percent, will receive PCDO’s recommendation that the candidate appear “in the column” on the June Primary election ballot along with the endorsed Democratic candidates, but without the party slogan (“Regular Democratic Organization”).

Other candidates who received the PCDO’s endorsement for Council included Princeton Township Committeeman Lance Liverman (223 votes); consultant and Consolidation Commission veteran Patrick Simon (221 votes); and Township Committeeman Bernie Miller (214 votes).

Those receiving over 40 but under 60 percent of the vote included Borough Council Committeewomen Jo Butler (151 votes) and Jenny Crumiller (175 votes); Transition Task Force Vice Chair Scott Sillars (158 votes); and area businesswoman Tamera Matteo (150 votes). On Monday evening, the Democratic Municipal Committees of Princeton Borough and Township gave Ms. Butler and Ms. Crumiller their full endorsement and, as expected, endorsed Ms. Lempert and the four other Council candidates.

Borough Councilman Roger Martindell, who received 135, or 38.2 percent of the vote, and Borough Council Mayor Yina Moore, who received 27.5 percent with 97 votes, were not endorsed by either group.

Prior to voting, audience members heard the mayoral and council candidates deliver prepared statements and respond to a variety of questions that had been prepared earlier (candidates‘ responses can be seen on the PCDO website, www.princetondems.org). Describing the program as an opportunity for members to make “a well-informed vote,” PCDO President Dan Preston instructed voters to select at least three, but no more than six Council members.

In her opening comments, Ms. Lempert likened the “energized candidates” and packed house that evening to her experience of helping to run the local presidential campaign in 2008, when enthusiastic Obama supporters didn’t “let egos get in the way” of progress. She noted that she was the only candidate who had the support of members of both Township Committee and Borough Council.

“If elected mayor, I will work toward an efficient and cost-effective merger of the police departments, and I will preserve the fire department as an all-volunteer force,” said Mr. Wilkes, getting right down to business in his opening statement. He began his response to a question about helping Princeton’s Hispanic community by speaking with confidence in Spanish.

Deborah McMillan, current chair of the Hightstown chapter of the League of Women Voters, deftly moderated the program, noting that towns like Hightstown and West Windsor were “watching with interest” as the Princetons move toward consolidation. Freeholder Andrew Koontz led the opening Pledge of Allegiance and provided a musical interlude during the vote-counting.

Princeton Community TV videotaped the meeting and will be broadcasting it on March 28 at noon; March 29 at 9 a.m.; March 30 at 3 a.m.; and March 31 at 10 a.m. You can watch PCTV via Comcast Ch. 30, Verizon FIOS Ch. 45, or streamed live to your computer at www.princetontv.org/media.html.