CHOOSE THE FUTURE
Trentonians hit the polls to pick a new mayor and council members, or narrow it down for runoff elections >>
TRENTON » Voters will decide Tuesday who will become the city’s next mayor.
A field of seven candidates — comprised of newcomers, veterans and those giving it another go — will challenge each other for the city’s top spot. The candidates are Alex Bethea, Darren Green, Reed Gusciora, Duncan Harrison Jr., Annette Lartigue, Paul Perez and Walker Worthy Jr.
Current Mayor Eric Jackson announced in January he would not be seeking re-election after a lackluster first term.
Since there is such a large field, it is highly unlikely that a single mayoral candidate will be able to secure the required 50 percent plus one vote to win the election outright so a runoff election between the top two finishers will take place on June 12.
On Monday, The Trentonian reached out to all the candidates and asked them why voters should elect them in two sentences.
Alex Bethea, who has served eight years as an atlarge city councilman and is a retired vice principal at Trenton Public Schools, said he was the “best candidate in the race.”
“I have more experience and I’ve been in Trenton for 40 years,” Bethea said. “If you’ve never been an elected official and you think you can do this job, you’ll have a rude awakening — I hope the voters get it this time because we don’t have another four years to throw away.”
City activist Darren “Freedom” Green has run a grassroots campaign to unseat the establishment.
“A true, brand new start of a new opportunity for the people of Trenton,” Green said. “No alliances or allegiances to the old Trenton, empowering Trentonians to build a new Trenton.”
Reed Gusciora has served in the state Assembly representing Trenton and the Mercer County and Hunterdon County regions since 1996 as a Democrat.
“I think we need a change in direction for the city,” Gusciora said. “We need to clean the city up and work on public safety and economic development and I think they all go hand-in-hand.”
Councilman Duncan Harrison is the youngest candidate in the race at
33. He has served as an atlarge councilman the past four years.
“They want somebody that’s qualified, dedicated and committed to the city of Trenton that’s going to move the city of Trenton forward, that’s why they should vote for me,” Harrison said. “If they want somebody that cares about the people, that cares about the city and everyone in it, that’s why they should Duncan Harrison
— they want new energy, new life in their neighborhoods and someone that can carry out a vision.”
Annette Lartigue previously served as a West Ward councilwoman in Trenton and unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2010.
“I have a track record of accomplishment,” Lartigue said. “I’m prepared with municipal and executive experience.”
Paul Perez finished a surprise close second to current Mayor Eric Jackson in 2014. He lost by approximately 1,100 votes but has spent the past four years building up his base.
“I provide the best opportunity for change,” Perez said, noting he understands the challenges the city faces. “I’m not going to use those challenges as excuses, not to achieve what we set out to achieve, which is to clean up streets, make it safe, bring in the interests of investors, to create jobs and also to tackle the abandoned properties and illegal dumping in the city.”
Walker Worthy Jr., who is Mercer County’s deputy clerk, finished third in the 2014 mayoral race.
“The residents should vote for me because of my leadership skills and my extensive experience in government,” Worthy said. “I know how to bring people together for the common good and I’ve outlined my plans for how to uplift Trenton with better services and budget management.”
On the council side, there will be new faces for at-large and East Ward while incumbents in the North, South and West wards will try to hold onto their seats.
Since current at-large council members Bethea and Harrison are running for mayor and Councilwoman Phyllis HollyWard decided against seeking re-election, there will be three new members on the legislative body.
Vying for the three atlarge vacancies will be Jerell Blakeley, former Councilwoman Kathy McBride, Rachel Cogsville-Lattimer, Nathaniel McCray, Elvin Montero and Santiago Rodriguez.
With East Ward Councilwoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson leaving for the state Assembly, a new candidate will be elected to the seat.
Elmer Sandoval, Taiwanda Terry-Wilson, Perry Shaw III and Joseph Harrison, who lost in a runoff to Reynolds-Jackson in 2014, will square off for the East Ward position.
In the North Ward, twoterm incumbent Marge Caldwell-Wilson will look to fend off challengers Algernon Ward and Eboni Love.
George Muschal, who won two terms and a special election in the South Ward, faces Damian Malave and Jenna Kettenburg. Muschal was acting mayor in Trenton for a few months after Tony Mack was removed from office.
In the West Ward, incumbent Council President Zachary Chester will have his hands full with Atalaya Armstrong, Shirley Gaines and Robin Vaughn.
Since there are many candidates running for the ward races, there may be some runoff elections for those races as well, which will also take place on June 12.
Polling locations in Trenton will be open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday.