Editing Trenton, New Jersey (section)

===Local government===
{{see also|Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey}}
Trenton is governed within the [[Faulkner Act]], formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the [[Faulkner Act (mayor–council)|Mayor-Council]] system of municipal government, one of 79 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.<ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf ''Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey''] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601184216/https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf |date=June 1, 2023 }}, [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a seven-member city council. Three city council members are elected [[at-large]], and four come from each of four [[Ward (United States)|wards]]. The mayor and council members are elected concurrently on a [[non-partisan]] basis to four-year terms of office as part of the November general election.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 73.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=10 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604040836/https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=10 |date=June 4, 2023 }}, p. 10. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.trentonnj.org/477/Overview City Council Overview] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809141905/https://www.trentonnj.org/477/Overview |date=August 9, 2020 }}, Trenton, New Jersey. Accessed December 1, 2019. "The City of Trenton is governed within the Faulkner Act, formerly known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law. Under this act, the Mayor-Council system was developed in 1792."</ref>

In October 2020, the city council overrode a mayoral veto and shifted municipal elections from May to November, with proponents citing the increased turnout and savings to the city of $180,000 in each election cycle. The mayor and members of council all had their term-end dates extended by six months and moved to December 31 from June 30, 2022.<ref>Avilucea, Issac. [https://www.trentonian.com/2020/10/01/trenton-council-overrides-mayors-election-day-veto/ "Trenton council overrides mayor’s Election Day veto"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503203855/https://www.trentonian.com/2020/10/01/trenton-council-overrides-mayors-election-day-veto/ |date=May 3, 2022 }}, ''[[The Trentonian]]'', October 1, 2020. Accessed May 3, 2022. "Council had the last say in this one. The governing body overrode Mayor Reed Gusciora’s veto of an ordinance that moves the municipal election from May to November. The change also moves runoffs to December rather than June and gives the mayor and council members another six months in office.... Vaughn suggested the city would see increased voter turnout and savings as much as $181,000 by aligning Trenton with other municipalities in Mercer County that conduct elections with the general election."</ref> The city retained a provision that would have a December runoff in the event that the candidate with the most votes does not obtain a majority.<ref>Biryukov, Nikita. [https://newjerseymonitor.com/2021/08/11/another-town-poised-to-join-others-moving-local-elections-to-november/ "Another town poised to join others moving local elections to November Nonpartisan spring races dwindle as towns seek to boost turnout, cut election costs"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130175110/https://newjerseymonitor.com/2021/08/11/another-town-poised-to-join-others-moving-local-elections-to-november/ |date=November 30, 2021 }}, New Jersey Monitor, August 11, 2021. Accessed May 3, 2022. "He added the city would likely have to foot the bill for a December runoff election in case no candidate won a majority during the nonpartisan November vote, though that’s nothing new. Trenton already paid for runoff elections held in June before."</ref>

{{As of|2023}}, the mayor of Trenton is [[Reed Gusciora]], whose term of office ends December 31, 2026.<ref>[https://www.trentonnj.org/478/Office-of-the-Mayor Office of the Mayor] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809214822/https://www.trentonnj.org/478/Office-of-the-Mayor |date=August 9, 2020 }}, Trenton, New Jersey. Accessed May 3, 2022. "Reed Gusciora (born March 27, 1960) was sworn in as the 48th mayor of the City of Trenton on July 1st, 2018. Prior to becoming Mayor, he served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 1996, representing the 15th Legislative District, which includes portions of Mercer and Hunterdon Counties."</ref> Members of the city council are Jasi Edwards (at-large), Crystal Feliciano (at-large), Teska Frisby (West Ward), Yazminelly Gonzalez (at-large), Joseph A. Harrison (East Ward), Jenna Figueroa Kettenburg (South Ward) and Jennifer Williams (North Ward).<ref name=Council>[https://www.trentonnj.org/276/Council-Members Trenton City Council Chambers] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809162128/https://www.trentonnj.org/276/Council-Members |date=August 9, 2020 }}, Trenton, New Jersey. Accessed February 2, 2023. No members are listed as of date accessed</ref><ref>[https://www.trentonnj.org/DocumentCenter/View/6941/CY-2022-Introduced-Budget#page=10 2022 Municipal Data Sheet] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221124183313/https://www.trentonnj.org/DocumentCenter/View/6941/CY-2022-Introduced-Budget#page=10 |date=November 24, 2022 }}, Trenton, New Jersey. Accessed February 2, 2023.</ref><ref name=MercerOfficials>[http://www.mercercounty.org/home/showdocument?id=9138 Mercer County Elected Officials] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116003440/http://www.mercercounty.org/home/showdocument?id=9138 |date=November 16, 2019 }}, [[Mercer County, New Jersey]], as of November 12, 2019. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref><ref name=Mercer2022>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Mercer/116247/web.303253/#/summary General Election November 8, 2022 Results] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718063048/https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Mercer/116247/web.303253/#/summary |date=July 18, 2023 }}, [[Mercer County, New Jersey]] Clerk, updated November 8, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Mercer2022RunoffWards>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Mercer/116899/web.307039/#/summary Trenton North and South Ward Council Run-Off Election December 13, 2022 Official Results] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105165935/https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Mercer/116899/web.307039/#/summary |date=January 5, 2023 }}, [[Mercer County, New Jersey]] Clerk, updated January 17, 2023. Accessed February 2, 2023.</ref><ref name=Mercer2022RunoffAtLarge>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Mercer/117231/web.307039/#/summary Trenton Council At-Large Run-Off Election January 24, 2023 Official Results] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001194910/https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Mercer/117231/web.307039/#/summary |date=October 1, 2023 }}, [[Mercer County, New Jersey]], Clerk, updated February 1, 2023. Accessed February 2, 2023.</ref>

As they had not exceeded the minimum of 50 percent in the November 2022 general election, a runoff was held in December for the seats in the North and South Wards. Jennifer Williams won the North seat by a single vote against Algernon Ward,<ref>[[David Wildstein|Wildstein, David]]. [https://newjerseyglobe.com/local/williams-still-wins-by-one-vote-after-recount/ "Williams still wins by one vote after Trenton recount Two additional ballots added to count after hand tally, but results remained the same"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213163318/https://newjerseyglobe.com/local/williams-still-wins-by-one-vote-after-recount/ |date=February 13, 2023 }}, ''[[New Jersey Globe]]'', January 14, 2023. Accessed February 13, 2023. "Jennifer Williams gets to hold on to her North Ward seat on the Trenton City Council after prevailing in a recount of ballots cast in the December 13 runoff election by one vote. Williams defeated Algernon Ward, Jr, 428 to 427, after a hand recount found two votes that had previously been uncounted."</ref> which made Williams the first transgender individual to be elected to a city council position in New Jersey history as well as being the first LGBTQ+ city council member in Trenton history.<ref>Difilippo, Dana. [https://newjerseymonitor.com/2023/01/06/transgender-councilwoman-takes-office-in-trenton/ "Transgender councilwoman takes office in Trenton"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213164848/https://newjerseymonitor.com/2023/01/06/transgender-councilwoman-takes-office-in-trenton/ |date=February 13, 2023 }}, New Jersey Monitor, January 6, 2023. Accessed February 13, 2023. "From Florida’s notorious 'don’t say gay' law to bathroom bans to the controversy over new sex ed standards in New Jersey schools, Jennifer Williams has felt a mounting alarm at policies and proselytism that demonize the transgender community....  Sunday, Williams made history when she was sworn in as the Trenton City Council’s first LGBTQ member — and the first transgender person elected to any municipal council statewide."</ref> Jenna Figueroa Kettenburg won the South ward seat, defeating Damian G. Malave who had been ahead on Election Day but short of the cutoff, while a January 2023 runoff had Jasi Edwards, Crystal Feliciano and Yazminelly Gonzalez winning the three at-large seats.<ref name=Mercer2022/><ref name=Mercer2022RunoffWards/><ref name=Mercer2022RunoffAtLarge<ref>Fox, Joey. [https://newjerseyglobe.com/local/edwards-feliciano-gonzalez-overwhelmingly-win-trenton-at-large-council-runoff/ "Edwards, Feliciano, Gonzalez overwhelmingly win Trenton at-large council runoff"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202154408/https://newjerseyglobe.com/local/edwards-feliciano-gonzalez-overwhelmingly-win-trenton-at-large-council-runoff/ |date=February 2, 2023 }}, ''[[New Jersey Globe]]'', January 24, 2023. Accessed February 2, 2023. "Jasi Edwards, Crystal Feliciano, and Yazminelly Gonzalez have easily won three at-large seats on the Trenton City Council, defeating three other candidates in the runoff for an election that initially came before voters more than two months ago.... By the time a judge ordered a runoff to be held after all, it was too late to hold it alongside two ward-based runoffs, which were scheduled for December 13. Instead, the election was set for today – a full 77 days after voters first cast ballots in the at-large race. In the meantime, North and South Ward runoff voters narrowly elected Jennifer Williams and Jenna Figueroa Kettenburg, bringing the council to a bare four-member quorum before the reorganization of government on January 1."</ref>

In February 2023, Judge William Anklowitz of the New Jersey Superior Court heard a case for election challenges in the North Ward runoff election for both candidates Algernon Ward and Jennifer Williams. Three of the ballots Ward contested were all rejected because they were mail-in ballots that were returned without the required inner envelope. The other rejection Ward challenged was a case involving a cure letter that a voter sent to the wrong place, leading to it being not counted. Williams contested one ballot that was not counted due to it having both a vote for Ward and for Williams. Judge Anklowitz determined that the slash through Ward's vote signaled the voter's intention to vote for Williams and thus determined the vote should have been counted. These election challenges were heard following a recount that was held that did not change the outcome of the vote. Jennifer Williams thus remained to hold her seat on Trenton City Council for the North Ward seat.<ref>Fox, Joey. [https://newjerseyglobe.com/local/williams-will-remain-on-trenton-city-council-after-judge-rejects-election-challenge/ "Williams will remain on Trenton City Council after judge rejects election challenge"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216162425/https://newjerseyglobe.com/local/williams-will-remain-on-trenton-city-council-after-judge-rejects-election-challenge/ | date=February 16, 2023}}, ''New Jersey Globe'', February 15, 2023. Accessed November 19, 2023.</ref>

====Mayor's conviction and removal from office====
On February 7, 2014, [[Tony F. Mack]] and his brother, Raphiel, were convicted by a federal jury of bribery, fraud and extortion, based on the details of their participation in a scheme to take money in exchange for helping get approvals to develop a downtown parking garage as part of a sting operation by law enforcement.<ref>via [[Associated Press]].[https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/08/nyregion/mayor-tony-mack-of-trenton-is-found-guilty-of-taking-bribes.html "Mayor Tony Mack of Trenton Is Found Guilty of Taking Bribes"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802153423/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/08/nyregion/mayor-tony-mack-of-trenton-is-found-guilty-of-taking-bribes.html |date=August 2, 2017 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 7, 2014. Accessed February 12, 2014.</ref> Days after the conviction, the office of the [[New Jersey Attorney General]] filed motions to have Mack removed from office, as state law requires the removal of elected officials after convictions for corruption.<ref>[https://6abc.com/archive/9425976/ "NJ calls for convicted Trenton mayor Tony Mack to be removed"], [[WPVI-TV]], February 10, 2014. Accessed February 12, 2014. "The state Attorney General's Office filed a request Monday with a state Superior Court judge, asking that Tony Mack be kicked out of office, stripped of his pension and be barred from holding elected office again.... Under state law, people convicted of corruption cannot continue to hold public office. But since Mack has not resigned, the state is asking a judge to enforce the law."</ref> Initially, Mack fought the removal of him from the office but on February 26, a superior court judge ordered his removal and any actions taken by Mack between February 7 and the 26th could have been reversed by Muschal.<ref name="MuschalJuly">Pizzi, Jenna. [http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2014/03/trenton_council_to_vote_to_install_george_muschal_as_interim_mayor.html "Trenton council to vote to install George Muschal as interim mayor"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312234119/http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2014/03/trenton_council_to_vote_to_install_george_muschal_as_interim_mayor.html |date=March 12, 2014 }}, ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', March 4, 2014. Accessed October 12, 2015. "Council members decided to amend the agenda for their regularly scheduled meeting to include the action of appointing Muschal to the interim post. He will serve until a new mayor – elected in May – takes over July 1."</ref> Previously, Mack's housing director quit after it was learned he had a theft conviction. His chief of staff was arrested trying to buy heroin. His half-brother, whose authority he elevated at the city water plant, was arrested on charges of stealing. His law director resigned after arguing with Mack over complying with open-records laws and potential violations of laws prohibiting city contracts to big campaign donors.<ref>via [[Associated Press]]. [http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/07/a_year_of_turmoil_stumbles_for.html "A year of turmoil, stumbles for Trenton's mayor"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721201500/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/07/a_year_of_turmoil_stumbles_for.html |date=July 21, 2012 }}, ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', July 9, 2011. Accessed January 10, 2012.</ref>

From February 7 to July 1, 2014, the acting mayor was George Muschal who retroactively assumed the office on that date due to Mack's felony conviction, who had taken office on July 1, 2010.<ref name=MuschalSwornIn>Zdan, Alex; and Pizzi, Jenna. [http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2014/02/acting_mayor_george_muschal_assumes_office_and_vows_to_put_trenton_on_the_right_track.html "Acting Mayor George Muschal assumes office and vows to put Trenton 'on the right track'"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302125629/http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2014/02/acting_mayor_george_muschal_assumes_office_and_vows_to_put_trenton_on_the_right_track.html |date=March 2, 2014 }}, ''[[The Times (Trenton)|The Times]]'', February 26, 2014. Accessed May 21, 2017.</ref> Muschal, who was council president, was selected by the city council to serve as the interim mayor to finish the term.<ref name="MuschalJuly"/>