Mark Freda Will Run For Princeton Mayor In 2020

(Photo Credit:?Sophie Dennehy Photography)

Mark Freda, the President of the Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad, has thrown his hat into the ring.

 

PRINCETON, NJ ? Mark Freda, lifelong Princeton resident has? announced he will be running for mayor of the town in the 2020 election.

“I believe I can contribute to the community in a more dynamic way as mayor. My professional and civic experience will allow me to provide very practical and knowledgeable leadership. What happens in our town is very important to me; I can stand on the sidelines or I can actively work to help shape Princeton’s future. I am not a ‘stand on the sidelines’ person; I am a ‘let’s get involved, work with interested parties, address and resolve issues and challenges’ type of person,” Freda said.

Freda will be running on the Democratic ticket. Current Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert, also a Democrat, has served in office since 2013 with her term set to expire at the end of next year. Lempert has not said whether she plans to run for re-election.

“I believe that competitive elections are important for our democracy and make our town stronger,” Lempert said. “For now I’m focused on the job I was elected to do. The end of the year is an especially busy time where we are pushing to wrap up projects from 2019 and set goals for 2020. This year we are also transitioning to new council members and want to make sure they start the year prepared. The 2019 election just concluded a few weeks ago. Typically the local campaign doesn’t start up until the new year. This is for good reason, as it allows everyone time to enjoy the holidays with their families before the next campaign begins.”

Along with serving on the town’s first aid squad since 1975, Freda has a long list of experience in the public sector including:

  1. Princeton Borough and Princeton Township Transition Task Force, Chair 1/2012 to 6/2013
    1. Headed effort to structure how the two towns would combine into one town on January 1, 2013.
  2. Borough of Princeton, Director of Emergency Services August 2009 ? November 2011
    1. Administrative head of Princeton Fire Department; drive process changes; provide change leadership.
    2. Emergency management responsibilities.
  3. Princeton Fire Department, 1974 ? present, Chief in 1989
  4. Princeton Recreation Master Plan Steering Committee 2007 ? 2008
  5. Princeton Borough Council, Princeton, NJ 1986 ? 1999
    1. Elected official, Princeton Borough Councilman, five terms/Council President, five years.
  6. Police Commissioner/Chair of Public Safety Committee, 11 years.
  7. Public Works Committee, 13 years.
  8. Planning Board and zoning experience.

He also has experience in the non-profit sector including:

  • Spirit of Princeton Committee, founding member/vice-chair, 1998 ? present
  • Dorothea van Dyke McLane Association Board of Trustees, 2001 ? present
  • United States Jaycees, Greater Princeton Chapter, 1978 ? 1980.
  • Joint Princeton Borough ? Princeton Township First Aid Committee, 1980 ? 1985
  • Youth Employment Service, Board of Directors, 1986 ? 1996
  • Princeton Volunteer Fire Department Bicentennial Committee, chairman, 1986 ? 1990

Source:?https://patch.com/new-jersey/princeton/mark-freda-will-run-princeton-mayor-2020