#PolicyProfile: Thomas Emens, MPA ’29

“As mayor of Jamesburg, NJ, I wake up every day thinking about how to make my hometown stronger. I was born and raised here, a small, blue-collar community without wealthy donors or endless resources—just hardworking people who care deeply about where they live. Public service, to me, isn’t politics. It’s about showing up, listening, and getting things done. I was elected to the Borough Council during my first semester as a transfer student at Princeton. A year later, I became Council President, and in 2024, after our mayor resigned, I stepped in as Acting Mayor while finishing my senior thesis. Today, I’m serving a two-year mayoral term focused on stabilizing our finances, strengthening state and federal partnerships, and laying the groundwork for long-term economic development. We’ve secured significant state funding for public safety, and we’re planning to pursue redevelopment and grant opportunities to grow our tax base beyond property taxes. My path wasn’t typical. I attended Middlesex County College before transferring to Princeton, where I then led the Princeton Transfer Association and supported transfer and veteran students. As a SINSI scholar, I interned at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, helping to assess how clean energy investments could benefit disadvantaged communities. That experience deepened my interest in domestic policy—especially how federal funding and workforce programs can better serve places like Jamesburg. One of the most meaningful projects I’ve led was revitalizing our public library—restructuring its finances, hiring new leadership, and transforming it into a true community hub with ESL classes and family programming. When a mother told me it was the first time she felt part of the community, it reminded me why this work matters. My goal is simple: build systems that uplift communities without political capital and expand access to opportunity. If my story proves anything, it’s that public service is still a powerful path to change—and it starts by getting involved.”