PAUL ON THE RUN?
Former Trenton mayoral runner-up puts home up for sale, mum on political future >>
TRENTON >> Is Paul Perez’s dream of becoming capital city mayor over?
The Army veteran and two-time mayoral runnerup recently put his Hiltonia home up for sale, seemingly suggesting he won’t run for mayor again in 2022 since candidates must reside in the city to be eligible for office.
Perez, a Trenton native who attended Trenton Central High School until dropping out in 1980 to join the U.S. Army, did not respond to phone calls seeking comment about the implications of putting his five-bedroom, four-bathroom Buckingham Avenue home up for sale.
In a text-message exchange Monday with The Trentonian, he refused to directly rule out running for mayor a third time, in 2022, but sent over a statement making it seem like he’s thrown in the towel on becoming the city’s mayor following a bitter defeat to then-Assemblyman Reed Gusciora in the 2018 runoff.
“What we accomplished in Trenton was something to stand up and be very proud of,” Perez said. “While in the city, we helped establish a health and wellness task force for seniors in public housing, a new Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter, developed a strong rapport with the Trenton Public Schools system and opened up outside learning opportunities for Trenton children with the help an work of The Partnerships for Trenton community nonprofit organization.
“We entered politics to hopefully expand those successes into other areas, but that didn’t happen. We are very proud of all the people who supported the dream of a better Trenton and wish all those who continue the fight best wishes.”
Perez and his wife, Janet, have lived in the Buckingham Avenue home since purchasing it in June 2014 from former Mercer County freeholder Anthony Carabelli, and his wife, Carol for $265,000, according to records.
The Perezes are asking $298,900 for the 2,128-square-foot house, according to real estate listings.
Perez was vague when asked about his future plans, and if they involved running for office in Trenton.
“I will be returning to my private life,” Perez said during the text exchange. “The next election is not on for the next two years. We have plenty of time to make that decision. The story is I’m selling my home and we will talk soon. I am headed out to family. Talk soon.”
Reactions to the news that Perez may be leaving the capital city ranged from shock to disbelief.
“If he is moving, it leaves a void,” said former Trenton Police Lt. Rolando Ramos, who would have likely become police director had Perez won the election. “We need more people like him to stay in Trenton and work in Trenton, but you need the city to want people like that to stay, and sometimes it feels like they don’t. When you lose role models like that, like Paul who is Trenton-born, that’s hurts our next generation. You need those positive role models so kids can see a future and positivity.”
Perez first ran for mayor in 2014, losing by more than 1,000 votes to Eric Jackson. Jackson decided not to run for a second term of office, making Perez the clear frontrunner in 2018.
Perez led Gusciora by more than 700 votes after initial ballots were tallied, and teamed up with fourthplace finisher and community activist Darren “Freedom” Green to try to push him over the top.
Jackson eventually endorsed Perez in the runoff, a move political operatives felt hurt Perez given Jackson’s lukewarm tenure in which he struggled to get the city back on solid ground following the corrupted days under ex-Mayor Tony Mack.
In the end, Perez lost to the longtime Democratic state lawmaker in the hardfought, and divisive, runoff by more than 350 votes.
Refusing to go quietly into the night, Perez and his supporters raised electioneering allegations against Gusciora after the race was over, and blamed The Trentonian for perceived unfair and biased coverage, following his historic collapse.
A group of ardent Perez backers, including Michael Ranallo, went so far as to sue Gusciora to try to hold him and his campaign responsible for employing what Perez’s called “filthy tactics” in beating him.
Perez mostly stayed off the radar since losing to Gusciora and uttering those infamous last words — “f**k The Trentonian” — in a bitter concession speech in which he blamed the capital city tabloid for his implosion at the polls.
He later apologized for the outburst, and the Army veteran showed up to a few council meetings
But for the most part, he receded from the limelight and resumed work as security consultant.
The mayor said he attended neighborhood association meetings at Perez’s home since the election and the two remained “cordial.”
Despite only living a couple blocks away from his former opponent, Gusciora said he hadn’t seen a forsale sign outside the Perezes because he has no reason to drive by their house.
“I don’t know that he’s given up on Trenton. That house is big,” the mayor said, suggesting the Perezes could be downsizing. “I don’t know if he intends to move out of Trenton or he’s just looking for smaller quarters. No one has told me what his intentions are. I wish him well, but only he can decide what he wants to do in his next chapter.”
Green, Perez’s old running mate, told The Trentonian he hadn’t spoken with Perez in awhile and was surprised he put his home on the market.
“I think he made his run at it, and it didn’t materialize,” Green said. “I thought he would have done a
great job connecting people to issues. I think he’s had enough. What happens with Trenton politics is if you’re not a part of the machine, the in crowd, then you’re placed in the outskirts. … Whenever we have elections, we can’t let the pettiness take over. I think Paul sees the writing on the wall.”
In public statements, Perez still seemed committed to the idea of helping Trenton in any way he could.
Green blamed Gusciora for not trying to bring someone with Perez’s background as an Army criminal investigator into the fold, on issues relating to law enforcement.
He also said the mayor could have benefited from Perez’s clout in the city’s Latino community.
“I just think that’s an opportunity lost,” Green said. “We missed out to build bridges together. I think that hurts the city. It’s almost like we operate in isolated silence. We don’t have enough ambassadors from each community. It’s a loss to see him go. … Trenton is taking a major loss and it happens far too often. … Paul’s a good man, a good husband, a good father, and a good citizen to this city, and I just hope whenever he goes, he finds an opportunity to impact and live the life he wants.”
Ranallo, one of Perez’s most vocal supporters, said Perez’s work as a consultant often takes him out of state. He wondered whether Perez and his wife might relocate to old familiar stomping grounds in the Virginia area but stressed he had no inside knowledge.
Ranallo said he has accepted the outcome of the election and had to stop holding on to what the city’s future might have held under Perez’s leadership.
“I still think he has always had the city’s best interests at heart, and he wasn’t connected to the local party politics that was going on,” the city resident said. “The elections were pretty rough in Trenton, and I think he just maybe decided to move on. It’s Trenton’s loss. I think he would have been a viable candidate. … You spend most of your time running yourself ragged. It’s a giant commitment to run. If he feels he can’t, I completely respect that.”