Mayoral Candidate Jim Golden. Photo courtesy of the candidate.
With the regularly scheduled Trenton municipal elections just a year away, the Trenton Downtowner plans to provide information to the public about the mayoral candidates. Starting with the June issue we invited the candidates to submit a 700-word piece introducing themselves to the voters.
We asked each candidate to tell us about their family; when, where and why they decided to run for mayor of Trenton; and to list things they have accomplished that they think qualify them to be mayor. They were asked to provide concrete examples of achievements that demonstrate their ability to solve problems.
Each candidate was also allowed up to an additional 125 words to rate the performance of current mayor, Tony F. Mack.
My name is Jim Golden and I’m running to become the next mayor of Trenton for one simple reason: to move the city in a vastly different direction: forward.
I arrived in Trenton in 2000 to serve as the first civilian police director, along with my wife of 45 years, Victoria. We became city residents and fell in love with the capital city. We’re ‘empty nesters’ residing in Trenton’s West Ward and are passionate about our city.
We’re the proud parents of three adult daughters (Amy, Tammi and Holly), who have given us four beautiful granddaughters, with one on the way.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, I met Victoria while attending the same high school. We married one year after graduation.
Both of my parents are deceased. However, they instilled in me a strong set of core beliefs that continue to shape and inspire me today.
In 2010, after 40 years in law enforcement and public service, I chose to retire. Since then, I’ve increased my involvement in civic affairs, most notably as a regular attendee and speaker at city council meetings.
Incompetent leadership. Mismanaged budgets. Rising crime. Underperforming schools. These are some of the reasons that motivated me to consider running for mayor. Following deliberation with my family, and after meeting with countless community leaders, I officially announced my candidacy.
From managing budgets and personnel to setting goals and executing them, my experience as an administrator and senior executive in government agencies has given me the preparation to lead this city.
As executive officer reporting directly to the police commissioner in Philadelphia, I managed four administrative bureaus in a department with an annual budget of $400 million. I led and coordinated the development of the department’s strategic plan, and served on the mayor’s citywide strategic planning committee. This provided me with hands-on leadership and management skills that have proved invaluable in my professional life.
In 1996, I was appointed chief of police of Saginaw, Mich., leading a department of 200 employees in a city with an annual budget of over $100 million. Along with my management team, we ushered in a new era of problem-oriented policing, working with citizens to identify and solve problems at the neighborhood level.
Utilizing this community policing strategy, we reduced serious crime in Saginaw more than 30 percent during my four-year tenure.
This is a clear example of how I use metrics to measure results. It’s indicative of my leadership style and commitment.
I demonstrated this same style and philosophy as police director in Trenton. Working with staff, we re-engineered the police department and rolled out community policing, largely through the establishment of Citizen Police Advisory Councils in each ward.
We created 16 neighborhood beats throughout the city, to which officers were permanently assigned. Working with the CPACs, we shaped interventions to fight and prevent crime in every neighborhood. The result was a lower incidence of crime and fear.
In 2002, I was appointed the first federal security director at Philadelphia International Airport, in the newly created Transportation Security Administration. I rolled out aviation security at the nation’s 14th busiest airport, hiring 900 employees within five months and installing a state-of-the-art electronic baggage screening system within one year of my appointment. The on-time start-up of this $100 million federal agency is one of the highlights of my career.
I served six years with the School District of Philadelphia as the chief safety executive, leading a department of 700 employees in a system of 200,000 students and staff, with a budget of $3 billion. Working with school and community partners, we reduced serious incidents more than 35 percent over a 5-year period. Again, I used metrics to assess and measure outcomes.
I believe the citizens of Trenton will agree that my experience in leading and building coalitions in government organizations and the community make me well qualified to serve as mayor of this fine city.
In the weeks ahead, I will be rolling out my plan, meeting with residents block-by-block, district-by-district and ward-by-ward to communicate my vision to truly move Trenton forward. I can be reached at golden4mayor@gmail.com.
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