REED IN THE RACE?
State Assemblyman may enter Trenton mayoral contest if current mayor doesn’t run for re-election >>
TRENTON » The city mayoral race this coming spring may get a whole lot more interesting.
Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer/Hunterdon) is seriously considering a run if Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson decides against seeking reelection, sources with intimate knowledge of the situation tell The Trentonian.
If he is a candidate, Gusciora would immediately bring the most experience to the table. The Trenton resident has served in the Assembly since 1996.
He has also fought hard for the capital city in recent years on key issues.
Recently, he sued New Jersey over its state office buildings project. The state plans to build two new standalone office buildings to house Taxation and Health and Agriculture, but Gusciora contends it is a missed chance for redevelopment.
Both buildings fall outside the city’s redevelopment zone and feature no multi-use purposes. The project also lacks the support of many city residents.
Several years ago, Gusciora also battled then-Gov. Chris Christie for the state to build a new Trenton High School. The longtime 15th district legislator would be rewarded for his efforts when Christie, who famously once called the Trenton legislator “numbnuts,” told him during his second Inauguration in January 2014 that Trenton would receive a new high school.
The school is set to open on Chambers Street by 2019.
On the statewide level, Gusciora, the state’s first openly gay legislator, led the charge for the state to legalize gay marriage and civil unions.
Gusciora declined to comment when reached by phone on Thursday. He was also considering a run for mayor in 2014 but decided against it as the deadline approached.
All signals are pointing for the assemblyman to run this time, considering Jackson’s re-election bid is in doubt and growing dimmer every passing day.
One close source to Jackson told The Trentonian on Thursday that Jackson is “not running.”
The mayor is reportedly conducting polling in Trenton about his chances to win if he enters the race.
On Jan. 11, former Trenton Mayor Douglas Palmer revealed at a press conference that was promoted by Jackson’s administration that the first-term mayor had back surgery earlier this month. He was not present during that event and was a no-show during Gov. Phil Murphy’s prayer service in Trenton on Inauguration Day, though he was scheduled to attend.
Already in the race are Trenton Councilman Alex Bethea and 2014 runnerup Paul Perez. City activist Darren “Freedom” Green is exploring a run, but he has yet to formally announce.
If Jackson opts to sit out the election, expect a freefor-all.
Sources say Mercer County Deputy Clerk Walker Worthy will throw his hat in the ring. Worthy finished third in 2014’s race and he had the support of Mercer County and Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12).
Former Trenton Councilwoman Annette Lartigue, Trenton Council President Zachary Chester and city Councilman Duncan Harrison are also names being thrown around. And who knows? Trentonian columnist L.A. Parker, who’s flirted with the idea before, may make a run.
The election is scheduled for May 8.