Activist runs for mayor of Princeton Borough
Kim Pimley is running for mayor of Princeton Borough under the
banner of "Democrats for Change." Photo by Marilyn Silverstein
Over the years, as Kim Pimley pursued her interests as a community activist, a Democratic committeewoman, and treasurer of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization, the thought of running for the office of mayor of Princeton Borough often flickered through her mind.
But it wasn't until one day in March, when a group of friends and neighbors knocked on her door and asked her to run that she said yes to the idea.
"As I thought about it, it seemed like it would be a very good thing for the borough to have a contest," said the 47-year-old Pimley during an interview in her Princeton Borough home. "And getting out the issues – that would be a good thing for the town. I have to say, that was kind of the hook for me: It would be good for everybody; there was my tikun olam," she said, referring to the mitzva of repairing the world.
Pimley, a former president of The Jewish Center, will go head-to-head with the borough's incumbent mayor, Mildred Trotman, during the Democratic primary election on Tuesday, June 5. Pimley will be on the ballot under the heading "Democrats for Change." Since the Democratic Party is "the only game in town," Pimley said, the primary election would be decisive, forecasting the outcome of the general election in November.
A consultant in credit and corporate finance training, Pimley has lived in Princeton Borough for the past 11 years with her husband, Michael, and their teenage son, Oliver. She and her husband are cofounders of the Princeton-based Pimley & Pimley Inc.
Kim Pimley serves on the boards of the United Jewish Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, and the Princeton HealthCare System Foundation. Those professional and volunteer experiences are good preparation for the challenges of being mayor, she suggested.
"I think I bring an ability to plan strategically and execute tactically," Pimley said. "I can think ahead, see where the problems and pitfalls are, and, when it comes down to execution and hard work, I can do that, too.
"Also," she said, "I'll be coming in as somewhat of an outsider. I'll have an ability to take a good, hard look from the outside and make some changes. I respect Mildred a lot. I know she's been a dedicated public servant for many years. But the whole government – council and mayor – is reactive where they need to be more strategic, looking ahead and planning."
Pimley's campaign is focusing on several key issues – property tax relief, the development of the site the University Medical Center at Princeton will vacate when it moves to Route 1 in Plainsboro in 2009, the development of Princeton University's proposed arts neighborhood along Alexander Road, and the incursion of gangs and drugs in town.
She would like to jumpstart the development of townhouses on Palmer Square, which has been stalled for the past 17 years by a dispute over parking spaces. "There are so many different issues. It's quite complicated," she said. "I feel like somebody needs to step in and untie this knot.
"I'm a great believer in strategic planning and measurable results – obviously reacting as things come up, but I think you need to plan," she added. "So my first thing would be a top-down evaluation of the way the municipality runs with an eye toward operational efficiency. I see that as a way of keeping our community vital."
As for the gang problem, Pimley said, "We need to be more honest about what's going on. In all of New Jersey, there are 700 gangs and 17,000 gang members. They have penetrated 90 percent of municipalities, and we're not talking about it."
A shooting in the John Witherspoon neighborhood earlier this month could be indicative of increased gang violence in Princeton, according to police reports. No injuries were reported in the confrontation between youths.
One strategy for confronting the problem is to provide more programs for youths at risk, Pimley said. Another is to equip citizens with information about what's going on and to see how other municipalities have been successful in dealing with the problem.
When she discussed these issues during her debate with Trotman in April, Pimley said, she evoked some famous words from the great sage Rabbi Hillel. "I think people have an obligation to learn the issues and to work for the community," she said, "and if not now, when?"
Jewish values are "part of who I am," she said, and if the election swings her way, "I can see that being part of the way the town gets run."
Running for mayor of Princeton Borough is a way to give back, Pimley added. "We always feel we're blessed with so many gifts. We do have an obligation to give back and effect repair," she said. "We get involved and try to make a difference – and that, I feel, is about as Jewish as it gets."
Trotman, who has served on the Princeton Borough Council since 1985, is seeking her first full term as mayor of the borough after taking over in 2005 following the death of Mayor Joseph O'Neill. Attempts to reach the mayor for comment were not successful by press time.
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