After all the turmoil Trenton has been through, how does a new mayor begin to rewrite it? There is no handbook, but one thing is for sure: he cannot do it alone.
In that spirit, Mayor Eric Jackson is moving forward with a team of experienced and informed members from the greater community to help shape the direction and policies of the future of Trenton.
“This dynamic, diverse group of people are committed to furthering our common vision of moving Trenton forward as one community to eradicate crime, improve schools, create jobs and restore ethics and integrity to City Hall,” Jackson said.
The new mayor’s selections include important state, county and past city political officials as well as business and management experts. Included are former Trenton mayor Douglas Palmer, Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes, Senator Shirley Turner (D-Mercer), Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer), executive vice president of brokerage for Coldwell Banker Richard Ellis (CBRE) Gualberto “Gil” Medina, and vice president and eastern regional manager for the Laborers International Union of North America Raymond Pocino.
The co-chairs of Jackson’s transition team are Bill Guhl and Gwendolyn Harris. Guhl has 39 years in government service and served as Trenton’s finance director and administrator under the Holland administration, assistant state treasurer under Governor Tom Kean, Mercer County administrator for county executive Bill Mathesius, Lawrence township manager for 14 years, interim-business manager for Hamilton mayor John Bencivengo, and a consultant to other regional municipalities.
The 67-year-old Hopewell resident also served as a volunteer business manager for the City of Trenton when the Tony Mack administration started four years ago. Guhl left four weeks later, citing irregularities in the city administration’s business practices and incivility.
Harris, a Trenton resident, served as the City of Trenton’s director of health and human services, business administrator and chief of staff under Mayor Douglas Palmer.
James Gee, chief of staff for Watson Coleman and senior political adviser during Jackson’s campaign, will serve as the team’s executive director.
Jackson also appointed a steering committee. Members include Bill Watson (brother to Bonnie Watson Coleman and former chief of staff for Mayor Palmer), Jeannine LaRue (senior vice-president of the West Trenton-based lobbying and public affairs Kaufman Zita Group), Charles Hill (Mercer County Administration and Economic Development), Gerry Gibbs (principal Capital Impact Group), Albin Garcia (Garcia Realtors), and Marty Johnson (president and founder of Isles).
Other advisers include Trenton native and director of area development at the New Jersey Institute of Technology at Rutgers Monique King-Viehland (for economic development and planning); former executive director of the state Senate Democrats’ office Kathy Crotty (state and local governments relations); Plainfield city engineer Jacqueline Foushee (public works); Plainfield municipal attorney David Minchello (law department); former Trenton city officer Ernie Perry (public safety); former principal of Trenton Central High School Marc Maurice (education); State of New Jersey Schools Development Authority communications coordinator Terrance Stokes (boards, commissions and authorities); freeholder, former city recreation director, and executive director of the Trenton YMCA Sam Frisby (parks and recreation); former Mercer County Department of Human Services director April Aaronson (health and social services); and Trenton Museum Society board member Carolyn Stetson and Artworks executive director Lynn Lemyre (arts and culture).
“They represent the best that our city and our region have to offer and I am honored that they have joined me [in] providing a new direction for Trenton,” said Jackson.
Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman is a member of Mayor Eric Jackson’s transition team.,
