Mayoral candidates talk about critical Trenton Issues
TRENTON » With election season in full-swing, The Trentonian sat with each mayoral candidate to gain a better understanding of their platforms. Each candidate was asked the same set of questions, and given the same time limit to answer. The following is each candidate’s introduction. To see full videos, visit www. trentonian.com.
Paul Perez
“I’m running for mayor because I’m a seasoned, proven executive with federal, military and private sector experience. I truly understand the business model of what success looks like. I believe that Trenton has a dysfunctional government and I feel that I am the right person at this time to come in and fix that business model and make it successful for our people.”
Annette Horton-Lartigue
“I’m running for mayor because I’m a kid from the neighborhood. A poor kid. All the odds and statistics were against me as a kid from the neighborhood. I studied political science in college and I have a real belief and heart for the city. I always have had. I’m a former elected official; I know what it takes to run this city. I know the challenges and the structural budget deficit issue. I understand economic development. I want to be a partner to help Trenton succeed and revitalize.”
Darren Green
“My favorite author James Baldwin says it very simply: Allegiance is a twoway street and it becomes unfortunate when the allegiance is only one-sided and not reciprocal. I’ve seen that to be the relationship between elected officials and Trentonians, those being the people. I’ve seen that year after year, election cycle after election cycle, so I decided to move from a position of asking to being able to lead and demand and put things in play. So, I’m no longer sitting on the sideline hoping it gets right, but I’m taking the initiative to lead and make it right. The people of Trenton need a leader who is at the pulse of all that they’re doing and moving the city forward.”
Walker Worthy
“I am running for mayor because I believe that the citizens of Trenton and their children deserve to live in a safe, clean environment. Now more than ever, we need true leadership in City Hall so that we can make good things happen for the citizens of Trenton. And I think I’m the person that is going to be able to do it.”
Alex Bethea
“For the last eight years, I’ve served on city council. I have a great interest for the city and I believe that in order for me to make the change that I would like to see in this city, I would have to be the mayor because the mayor at the end of the day gets the last say and then he brings his proposal before council and they vote on that. The mayor is the CEO of the town and I think I could do a good job from the experience I’ve got from being on council for eight years. I understand municipal politics, I’ve learned a lot and I think I’m the best candidate to turn the city around. I have a fivepoint plan in place that I can make sure that happens, which includes public safety, education, housing and economic development, taxes, stabilization and employment for Trenton residents.”
Duncan Harrison
“I’m a Trentonian. I grew up here and I’m raising my family here. I think Trenton needs a mayor that has a bold vision. What I want to bring to the city is a new Trenton revolution and that revolution includes offering our kids a world-class education that they deserve, bringing new businesses, new jobs and new life back into our neighborhoods. I also want to, with this revolution, end drug dealing and violence in our streets. I’m running for mayor because as a community activist I’ve been on the ground since day one. As a councilman, I’ve served the people and they elected me because they like the ideas and energy I brought to city government. So that’s what I want to do as our next mayor. I want to help get government right, get people engaged, get our communities back on track and make sure we have a government that is responding and responsive to our residents.”
Reed Gusciora
“Trenton is a city that I chose to live in and I’ve represented for the last 22 years in the Assembly. A lot of people are downing the city, it’s a state capital that is in the list of last capital cities that have a quality of life. But I see the potential there, in the people and the neighborhoods. And if we all work together, we can really make a shining capital city that it used to be. We have to clean up the neighborhoods, and it’s a challenge, but I think if we all work together we’re going to have a great city in about 10 years.”