‘ART OF THE DEAL ’
Perez gets endorsement from Mayor Jackson as the move draws criticism
TRENTON » Largely missing in action during his first and only term in office, Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson was constantly on the end of sharp criticism by his former opponent, Paul Perez.
It was often joked about in political circles that when Jackson announced in January that he would not seek re-election, Perez would no longer have anything to campaign on.
In a startling turn of events that shocked many in the Trenton political scene, Jackson announced Monday that he is backing his former assailant to succeed him.
“Following the 2014 election, Paul continued his efforts to revitalize our community by educating youth, supporting seniors and matching families to resources through his non-profit, Partnerships for Trenton,” Jackson said in a statement, thanking his 2014 runoff opponent for “proactively” serving the city the past four years. “He has earned my respect, as well as the solid support of so many of our citizens as demonstrated by the May 8th election results.”
Perez, who has regularly touted himself as an outsider, bashing the political establishment, will square off against Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (DMercer/Hunterdon) in the June 12 runoff election.
Gusciora thought he was reading an Onion article, which is a satirical news organization, when he first saw the story about the endorsement online. The longtime 15th district assemblyman alluded that a deal was in place between Perez and Jackson but he had “no idea” what it was.
“I like Eric but I think that my administration will be a clean break from the past and it’s just another indication that Paul Perez is going to be the status quo ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ candidate,” Gusciora said. “He’s very much playing a career politician game where everything is transactional to Perez. He seems to be more comfortable as the Trumplike “Art of the Deal” than thinking outside the box and trying to move the city forward.”
Perez did not respond to a message seeking comment.
In a prepared statement, Perez said he has “come to know Eric Jackson and respect him personally and professionally.”
“His endorsement is humbling and also signals his administration’s commitment for a smooth transition as we prepare to lead Trenton for the next four years,” Perez said.
However, the endorsement did not sit well with everyone in Perez’s camp.
Darren “Freedom” Green, who finished third in the May election, admitted he was surprised when he found out Perez had landed Jackson’s backing. He told The Trentonian he’d circle back once he got in touch with Perez about the Jackson endorsement.
Green, who endorsed Perez as sidekick in what the 2014 runner-up called the “dynamic duo,” admitted he doesn’t think he would have landed Jackson’s endorsement if he was still in the race “based on how I’ve moved, talked and operated.”
The longtime community activist hasn’t been a fan of Jackson and that won’t change just because the mayor is backing Perez.
“He’s the candidate,” Green said. “He makes the final decisions, and I just have to flow with that. That’s part of understanding the chain of command. I’m still where I stand.”
Green still felt Jackson is a “good man with a good heart” and credited him for stepping aside once he felt he couldn’t get it done for Trenton.
“Maybe some of these ‘career politicians’ should follow his example that you don’t have to sit in office forever,” he said about Gusciora, who has been dubbed the machine candidate following more than two decades as an assemblyman.
But Gusciora, who implied Green’s endorsement came with a job in the next administration, believes the Jackson blessing of Perez may backfire.
“I think it may hurt only because people are looking for that clean break and want to move the city forward and that means a break from the past, not an extension,” said Gusciora, a municipal prosecutor in Lawrence and Princeton.
If Jackson expressed an interest to endorse him, Gusciora said he would have went about it differently.
“I can’t help getting endorsed by anybody but I don’t think I would send press releases out and have great fanfare about it,” Gusciora said. “It would have been accepted — not celebrated.”
Gusciora thought he was on “very friendly terms” with Jackson. The pair recently caught up last week during the “Trenton Makes” bridge lighting ceremony.
“He was talking very much about when I take over,” Gusciora said. “I guess he would say the same thing to Perez — only he would mean it. I’ve always been on friendly terms with Jackson and I would certainly reach out back to him if I did win since he has the keys to City Hall and you want to have a smooth transition.”
High-level city employees, who spoke to The Trentonian on the condition of anonymity, said everybody was “pissed off” when they heard Jackson was endorsing Perez.
Gusciora has already landed the union support of AFSCME, which represents city workers, and the city’s teachers union.
“The workers have announced their support for me,” the assemblyman said. “So rank-and-file and the voters, that’s the kind of support I’m looking for. “
Mercer County Deputy Clerk Walker Worthy, Trenton Councilman Duncan Harrison and former city Councilwoman Annette Lartigue, who all finished outside the runoff race in the May mayoral election, also endorsed Gusciora.
Gusciora had also claimed that U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12) was going to endorse him, but the state’s first female African-American elected to Congress released a statement outlining that she would not endorse any candidate in the race.
Perez has landed several labor unions due to his reversed opposition to the state office buildings plan in Trenton. Gusciora said his change of heart about Jackson is just another example of Perez’s flip-flopping.
“He’s had a history of it,” Gusciora said. “These Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde positions ... Before he was adamantly opposed to the Jackson administration, now he sees to be embracing it. It shows a pattern and questions have to be asked, ‘What does he really stand for?’”
As Jackson’s political career twilights, he wanted to leave voters one last impression.
“My successor must possess the honesty, strength, integrity, resilience and vision to work with our new Council and all community stakeholders in order to effectively tackle the issues our city faces,” the outgoing mayor said in a statment. “That person is Paul Perez,”
Jackson did not return a call seeking comment.