Borough Council Candidate: Heather Howard

Name:  Heather Howard

Street of Residence:  Aiken Avenue

Occupation: Director, State Health Reform Assistance Network and Lecturer in Public Affairs, Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs

Previous Government Experience:

• Princeton Borough Council (current)
• New Jersey Commissioner of Health and Senior Services
• Chief Policy Counsel to Governor Jon Corzine
• Chief of Staff to Senator Jon Corzine
• Senior Policy Advisor to First Lady Hillary Clinton and Associate Director, White House Domestic Policy Council
• Honors Trial Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division
• Judicial Law Clerk, Judge Martha Craig Daughtrey, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
• Legislative Assistant, Congresswoman Nita Lowey (NY)

Other Civic Experience:

• Riverside Elementary PTO Executive Board
• Member, New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners
• Member, Board of Directors, New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute
• Member, National Advisory Council, New Jersey Nursing Initiative
• Visiting Associate, Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University

Why do you want to represent Princeton on Council?

I am running for Princeton Council to bring a fresh perspective to achieving the promise of consolidation while maintaining and enhancing this community that we love.  As a mom, I want my son to grow up in a community that is affordable, diverse, and welcoming to all of its citizens.  That diversity is a large part of what makes Princeton a wonderful place to live, and we will need creativity, discipline and decisive leadership to maintain that strength during this transition. I’ve dedicated my career to progressive policies, and I’m determined and dedicated to making government work for the people of Princeton.

What differentiates you from your opponents?

I have significant state and federal government experience, including as New Jersey’s Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, where I oversaw a $3.5 billion budget and staff of 1,700.  As a result, I have the skills to ensure that we make sound and sustainable decisions as we transition to the new Princeton.

In addition, I know how to work within a system without being committed to the status quo. For example, in my short time on Borough Council, I have already led the effort to reform our meetings, starting them earlier and holding our public meetings before our closed sessions, to encourage more public participation.

If elected, what are your TWO top priorities for Princeton and specifically what will you do to make those a reality?

1. My first is ensuring a smooth transition to the new Princeton The stakes this year are high – consolidation holds tremendous promise for a stronger, more diverse and liveable Princeton, but we will need to be focused and disciplined to achieve that promise. I have demonstrated that I am committed to civil dialogue, collaboration and a more transparent and responsive government – key elements for a successful transition to a united Princeton.
2. A related priority is holding the line on costs and taxes. The property tax burden jeopardizes our ability to keep Princeton affordable and welcoming. Consolidation provides an opportunity to restructure government and identify recurring savings, but we shouldn’t rely solely on consolidation to find savings and efficiencies. As a member of the Borough Council Finance Committee, I worked for a zero tax increase budget this year; this is a principle I will continue to pursue.