Why We Can’t and Should Not Wait:
My Reasons For Seeking the West Ward Council Seat
(2/10/06)

“I am running for West Ward Councilman because I know that I have a comprehensive vision for the entire ward and a plan that is better than that of the current incumbent.” It would seem that that declaration is a reasonable and rational enough explanation for any candidate seeking office. Many, however, still ask me the question, even when provided that answer: why are you running for West Ward Councilman? My answer to them is simply, why wouldn’t I?

I am running for West Ward Councilman because I am a true son of the West Ward. I was raised in both the western portion of the ward, Vailsburg section, and in the eastern part of the ward at Georgia King Village, as a third generation Newarker from both sides of my family tree. I learned to swim at Boylan Street Recreation Center, was a member of Pack 417 of the Cub Scouts, played in streets named Brookdale, Norwood, Sunset, Carolina and Vermont. Played basketball with former NBA baller and childhood friend Tate George and can remember a thriving So. Orange Avenue, Mt. Vernon Place, 18th Avenue, etc. More than that, I know the reasons why they are not that way today. I can and could have moved anywhere in these United States, but I came back to the community that gave me so much to give back my time, my talents, and my expertise to make it the best it can be. And I have done just that.

I am running because I have the quality of training to be the West Ward Councilman. I attended Newark public schools, having been a student at Alexander Street School, gaining extra academic enrichment studies at Speedway Avenue School, and being selected to be a part of the citywide magnet Gifted and Talented Program at Louise A. Spencer School. I have also been the victim of school busing due to overcrowding, bad school facilities, and fighting to bring the community into the schools as my mother’s “chief lieutenant” when she was the President of the Alexander St. School PTA fighting against these conditions. I graduated from one of the most prestigious private schools in the nation, The Pingry School, with honors. I served as then Councilman-At-Large Sharpe James’ Youth coordinator when he ran for Mayor in 1986, raising my own money to operate to do so at the age of 18. I graduated from American University with a dual degree in Political Science and Public Administration. I interned on Capital Hill, handled constituency concerns for a US congressman, and worked as the American University Director of the Jesse Jackson for President 1988 campaign, all before the age of 21. I received my law degree from Seton Hall University, School of Law, served as the first African-American President of the Essex County Young Democrats and as the Essex County Assistant Campaign Coordinator for Governor Jim Florio’s Re-Election campaign. I have worked as a law clerk for both the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and an Essex County Superior Court judge gaining invaluable experience understanding criminal and legal issues and potential remedies and solutions.

I am running for West Ward Councilman because I have the political knowledge and experience to guide the West Ward. I have been involved with campaigns since the age of 8 beginning with helping my father attain his first elected office as a county committeeman in 1976 and serving as his first campaign volunteer. I worked the polls for my father as a 10 year old alone in 1978 when he first ran and lost his attempt to be West Ward Councilman. As a 14 year old, I worked with him to win the West Ward Council seat. In 1986, I also worked to make him State Senator. As stated earlier, I worked to elect Sharpe James as Mayor in 1986 (age 18) and for Jesse Jackson when he ran for President in 1988 (age 20). As President of the Essex County Young Democrats, I dispatched dozens of members to work on county elections from 1993-1997, hosted Newark Municipal council and Mayoral debates in 1994, sponsored congressional style hearings on issues such as youth job creation, and challenged the Essex County Democratic Party to reform itself by abolishing the party line for candidates and for supporting young people for county committee positions. In 1997 and 1998, I supported my father’s State Senate and Mayoral candidacies against a hand picked Sharpe James opponent and against Sharpe James himself, serving as the West Ward Coordinator for the Elect Ron Rice for Mayor campaign. And in 2001, I served as a coordinator for my father’s State Senate re-election campaign again, against a hand-picked Sharpe James opponent.

I am running for West Ward Councilman because I have the policy experience and background to make change in the very institution of Newark city government from day one. I am the proud author of the New Jersey Department of Education Abbott regulations that have enabled Newark to receive over 300 million in additional educational dollars. I have fought for a real West Ward precinct with other concerned citizens as a child since the early ‘80s. I have worked on issues and policy papers while a student in Washington, DC. I have traveled to Pittsburgh, New York City, and Washington, DC to study how they operate city governments. I have spoken with city officials in Indianapolis, Houston and Atlanta as well. Through my group Reform Newark, we have co-hosted Empowerment Civic seminars to well over 200 Newark residents on how to access government in Newark and have provided the only Community Response to the Mayor’s Annual State of the City Address for the last two years. As a member of the Newark Water Group, I have fought against the privitization of Newark’s water and for the adoption of the city’s Masterplan. As a member of the Essex County Task Force on Voting Rights, I have fought against the state and county efforts to replace current voting machines in Newark with non-compliant electronic voting apparatuses. As a member of the Steering Committee of Essex County Democracy for America, I have fought to reform the Democratic Party from the grassroots and to forge a progressive challenge to the policies of George Bush and outdated policies of some Democrats.

Lastly, I am running for West Ward Councilman because I am the only council candidate, challenger or incumbent, that has laid out a specific, bold, and innovative blueprint of what I will do and what needs to be done to fundamentally change Newark government to which I am willing to be held accountable. My 100-page plan, “Reinventing Newark 2006: The Blueprint for a New West Ward and City,” is the first manifesto for change ever issued by a candidate for municipal council.

I have been a leader and agent for change in Newark, both in policy and in politics, all of my life. I have worked all of my life to make a difference for others and mostly outside of the spotlight where most of our leaders must live to pantomime the act of doing something on behalf of residents. I make no apologies for standing for fundamental change on behalf of people against whomever would cloud the debate or start confusion in their zeal for power for just the sake of power. We have had enough of that in Newark and it must change. I will be a part of changing it.

I am running to reform the entire system of government from the ground up, the politics and institutions of city government and to place more power in the hands of the community to effect change beyond the overused and wholly ineffective practice of merely hosting community meetings, a practice that is passed off as empowerment. The status quo politicians just do not see the need for those types of changes as they are either more comfortable working in the current paradigm of governance that Newark has maintained for the last 50 years or they honestly do not see how fundamental changes would actually make the city better. In 20 years, a new generation of leaders will hopefully move those of us that want in now out of office with new and innovative ideas as well. That is good for democracy and should NOT be met with the same tactics that we criticized racists for doing to us as Black people in the '60s and '70s right here in Newark.

The citizens of the West Ward need a complete break from the past and a clearly stated embrace of what I feel needs to be done to bring the started renaissance full circle. It will be, ultimately, up to a new city council, a newly empowered and educated electorate in Newark after we win, and a new consensus of the community to determine where we want to go as a city and to hold an old or new Mayor accountable from Day One, something we have not done as a city. We have for too long looked to a dynamic Mayor or elected official to decide what is best for us and we have for too long just accepted their answers as to what ails us.

The heavy lifting comes after a new government comes to this city.

Support me and support a regime change in the West Ward, a new covenant with our citizenry, full-time representation that is not afraid to stand up and be counted even if it is not popular, and a plan that I want you to hold me accountable to. You deserve nothing less.

It is time for a new generation that is qualified, trained, and ready to assume leadership to take responsibility for the present and future state of our city. I am reporting for duty.