The Trenton Times published the following article on April 12, 2013. To read the full article, click here.

Trenton Mayor Tony Mack keeps quiet about re-election plans

By Erin Duffy/The Times of Trenton 
on April 12, 2013 at 7:10 AM, updated April 12, 2013 at 7:16 AM

TRENTON — Three candidates have jumped in to the 2014 mayoral race over the past two weeks, hosting fundraisers and formally kicking off their campaigns in front of rooms full of supporters.

But one man has remained noticeably silent about his plans for the 2014 race: Mayor Tony Mack.

Mack, currently awaiting federal trial on bribery and extortion charges, remained mum yesterday on his re-election plans and said he was instead focused on the day-to-day work of running the city.

“I’m not concentrating on re-election right now,” he said after a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new $2 million Greg Grant Park on East State Street. “The work you do will re-elect you, so I’m concentrating on the work.”

Candidates Eric Jackson, Jim Golden and Walker Worthy have officially announced mayoral runs in the past two weeks, but Mack maintained it was too early to talk re-election.

“There’s a re-election time and there’s a working time and we’re in the working phase of our term, so that’s what we’re concentrating on, working and getting things done for the residents of Trenton and then they’ll make the decision,” he said.

Of course, the decision to run for office again may not be Mack’s to make: his trial is expected to start sometime this summer and, if convicted, he’ll have to forfeit his public office.

Mack also defended his recent appointment of two new school board members and said the city might appeal a recent Civil Service Commission ruling requiring the city to reinstate a former city park ranger and lay off current ranger Robert “Chico” Mendez, one of Mack’s allies.

“Chico’s still employed with the city,” Mack said yesterday.

In an April 3 ruling, the commission ordered the city to give Michael Morris his job back after he was laid off twice and replaced by Mendez, who had less seniority. The commission said Morris must be rehired within 30 days of its decision or the city has to pay his salary anyway.

Mack said the city’s law department was reviewing the decision and that the city couldn’t afford to hire a new park ranger after overtime for rangers came in more than $200,000 over budget last year.

In its ruling, the commission noted that the city, “despite numerous opportunities and requests,” did not submit any documents or arguments to defend its case for laying off Morris. Still, Mack said he felt the city would prevail in an appeal.

“It’s in legal now, legal’s looking at it,” he said. “Legal will look into it and see what the next course of action is.”

Civil Service Commission spokesman Peter Lyden said the city could file an appeal with the state Appellate Court, but had to do so within 45 days of the ruling.

Jack Butler, the attorney representing Morris, said they would file a reconsideration to try to get back pay for Morris for all the months he was laid off. But he said he doubted the Appellate Court would look favorably on any city appeal, given the city’s original lack of response.

“The Appellate Court is not going to give too much weight to an appeal since they refused to appear in any capacity prior to this point,” he said.

Mack also said he stood behind his recent appointment of two new school board members who will replace board president Rev. Toby Sanders and Nicola Tatum, whose three year terms expire in May.

New board members Patrice Daley and Roslyn Reaves-Council were sworn in on Tuesday.

“We’re appointing two new board members that fit the direction we’d like to take the district,” Mack said. “No disrespect to any of the existing board members.”

“Nobody’s kicking them off the board,” he said.

Daley has children in the district and was previously a parent advocate at Trenton Community Charter School and Reaves-Council, the wife of Superior Court Judge Gerald Council, is well-known for her advocacy for girls, Mack said.

“I’m not replacing anybody, I’m appointing two new board members because the existing board members’ terms are up,” Mack said.

The new members will join the board at its May 16 reorganization meeting.

Contact Erin Duffy at eduffy@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5723.