Princeton Township Deputy Mayor and Wilson School lecturer Steven Frakt announced Monday that he will step down from the Township Committee at the end of June, six months before the end of his term.
The decision does not come as a major surprise to the Township. In January, Frakt announced that this would be his third and final term on the committee and that he would not pursue a fourth term. Frakt, a Democrat, has been on the committee for nine years.
"After having done this for so many years, it's time to move on," he said. "I've had enough years of trying to be Solomon."
Frakt said that local politics can be frustrating. "No matter what you do, people get mad at you," he said.
It's especially difficult, he added, when those people are your neighbors.
Nevertheless, it was the advantages of local politics — such as immediately seeing the impact of his work — which attracted Frakt to join the Township Committee during his 20-year career in public policy in the N.J. state government. Frakt initially worked in the legislature and later became assistant state treasurer under former Gov. Jim Florio.
While on the Township Committee, Frakt has worked on plans for the new public library and municipal building, both issues that had been unresolved for many years. As a member of the recreation board, Frakt has also worked on creating new recreational spaces, which the growing youth leagues now need, he said.
For the past four years Frakt has been a writing instructor for the Wilson School, helping undergraduate and graduate students work on everything from public policy essays to job applications.
Frakt said he enjoys watching students undergo the learning process.
"The lightbulb goes off, and — boom — they walk out of there getting it together and I just feel like . . . that's very rewarding," Frakt said.
With the Wilson School senior thesis deadline just around the corner, Frakt said he has put up a sign which reads "writing therapist."
Frakt said he would like to continue in his part-time role at the University for as long as the Wilson School asks him to return.
Frakt is leaving the Township Committee for several reasons, he said. Because most of this year's work will have been accomplished by the end of June, Frakt said he would like to use his time during the second half of the year to travel and pursue other opportunities.
"In terms of meeting the needs of the community and fulfilling my responsibilities, that's taken care of," he said.
He said he hopes to visit his children and go hiking in Yosemite National Park.
Frakt added that since his announcement in January, he has been given several opportunities to work in the area of public issues.
Frakt's replacement on the committee will be chosen from a list submitted by his political party.
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