Jan Goria says she did not move to Princeton because she wanted another version of Frisco.
She moved because she wanted space, country, and a city that still felt like it had room to breathe.
Now Goria is asking Princeton voters to send her to City Council Place 4 in the June 13 runoff against Jaisen Rutledge.
In a recorded interview with Collin County Journal, Goria framed her campaign around service, transparency, responsible growth, small-town character, and a simple argument: Princeton needs a fresh voice from outside the inner workings of City Hall.
Why She Says She Is Running
Goria said she began attending council meetings a few months after moving to Princeton. She had known the city was growing quickly, but said she did not fully understand the scale of rooftops, traffic, and lost country feel until she started looking closer.
What moved her from concern to candidacy, she said, was the belief that frustration alone does not fix anything.
“We could all complain about a lot of things, but if we don’t actually put action to it, it’s not going to be resolved.”
That line captures the core of Goria’s pitch. She is not presenting herself as a polished political insider. She is presenting herself as a resident who watched the city change, got involved, joined Planning and Zoning, and now wants a seat at the table.
Growth, Roads, And The Cart Before The Horse
The strongest part of the interview came when Goria talked about growth.
She described Princeton as a city with many subdivisions, too many two-lane roads carrying too much pressure, and not enough infrastructure in place before homes arrive.
“We’re putting the cart before the horse,” Goria said. “I think we need to get the horse first and let the cart follow.”
For Princeton voters sitting in traffic on U.S. 380, FM 75, Myrick Lane, Monte Carlo, or neighborhood exits, that message is not abstract.
Goria said the city needs to think about the full cost of each development: roads, police, fire, schools, water, drainage, and quality of life. She said she understands the city needs revenue, but argued that more homes alone are not enough.
Her question was direct: where are the businesses where Princeton residents can work instead of leaving for Plano, McKinney, or elsewhere?
A Fresh Voice Argument
Goria acknowledged that Rutledge has more experience around City Hall as a volunteer and understands more of the city’s inner workings.
But she turned that into her own contrast.
“I am a fresh voice,” Goria said. “I come to this from the outside looking in, and sometimes you can see better from there.”
Her argument is not that experience does not matter. It is that experience inside a system can create tunnel vision, while a new council member can bring fresh eyes.
She compared public service to learning a job or becoming a parent: there is no perfect handbook, and every role includes training once the real work begins.
Transparency And Trust
Goria also said Princeton needs to be more transparent, but she did not put the entire responsibility on City Hall.
She described openness as a two-way street. The city needs to explain itself better, she said, but residents also need to show up, watch meetings, read agendas, contact officials, and vote.
That is where her campaign message becomes less about one candidate and more about turnout.
The May 2 election ended without any candidate receiving a majority. According to Collin County’s unofficial final summary, Goria led the field with 198 votes, followed by Rutledge with 157, Sharad Ramani with 103, and Hassan Abdulkareem with 17.
That means a handful of motivated voters could decide who fills Place 4.
Small-Town Charm
Goria repeatedly returned to Princeton’s small-town character.
She said she wants Princeton to keep some of its country feel, preserve its history, refresh downtown, and avoid becoming another city of rooftops, concrete, and traffic.
She also knows some of that may already be difficult.
“I want Princeton to be a nice little country town,” Goria said. “And that may be past us. But there are still ways that you can do that.”
For voters who feel Princeton has grown faster than it has planned, that may be her most direct emotional appeal.
What She Wants Voters To Remember
Asked what one thing voters should remember before deciding whether to support her, Goria did not give a policy list.
She gave a character answer.
“I am for the people,” Goria said. “I don’t have an agenda that I’m taking in with me.”
Her closing message was that she wants a better Princeton, wants residents to be heard, and wants council service to be rooted in listening, explaining, and following through where possible.
The runoff is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, according to the City of Princeton’s election page.
Sources: City of Princeton elections page, Collin County May 2 unofficial final results, and recorded Collin County Journal interview with Jan Goria on May 12, 2026.