Booker aide eyes Essex County Freeholder race
By Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ.com ReporterThe 25-year-old Constituent Services Director for the city of Newark has formed a committee to explore a potential bid for Essex County Freeholder At-Large.
Terrance Bankston, a native Newarker who ran Mayor Cory Booker’s south ward campaign operations for the 2006 election, says he offers youth, education and experience.
"Usually that doesn’t come in the same package," he says, quoting a profile from Ebony Magazine titled "30 under 30," in which he’s one of the featured subjects.
"When you look at the makeup of the freeholder board, there’s a missing piece there," says Bankston, honing in on the particular quality of youth. "It’s not about replacing the old with the new. We must join forces so our leadership is reflective of the community."
Three of the four At-Large Freeholders are from Newark: Johnny Jones, Blonnie Watson and Donald Payne, Jr. Patricia Sebold, a Freeholder since 1993, is from Livingston – the only suburban Democrat running countywide.
Bankston says that Jones told him he does not plan to seek re-election this year. Jones, a Newark Democrat, is in his 18th year as a Freeholder.
While he is the first candidate to launch his campaign, he enters the race without any commitments from key party leaders.
"It's still very early," says Phil Alagia, Chief of Staff to Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, who offered no comment as to whether or not DiVincenzo would back Bangston.
Asked about Booker’s influence over his campaign, Bankston says before ever consulting with the mayor, he talked with his family in early November and told them he was going to look at running for the freeholder seat.
"The mayor found out about that and called me and said, ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’" says Bankston.
"Let me be clear," he adds. "This is about my declaration of independence. Cory is an inspiration to me. I trust him as a leader. And this is not to say I don’t want his support. But it’s not only his support I’m seeking. The south ward is behind me."
While discussing issues that impact the entire county, Bankston also acknowledges that as a freeholder he would work to obtain a greater sheriff’s office presence on the three county roads that traverse the south ward, and would specifically target improved social services.
Deflecting criticism of the mayor and council that they are too eager to hire people from outside the city to fill key positions, Bankston notes his own deep roots in the city.
"When you come from a place you always want to see leadership that’s reflective of where you come from and who you are," says Bankston. "They like the idea that you’re walking with them."
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What do freeholders do exactly?
Except create another layer of costly county government in an already over taxed county!!! If this young man can explain how he will reduce my taxes, and enlarge my services, he has my vote! Otherwise he can take his youth, education and experience and put them on a shelf with the "change" platforms. The old timers in Essex were all once agents of change like him. I'm sick of the lot of them! REDUCE TAXES IN ESSEX COUNTY!!!
This guy is a rapper who goes by the name of Skrilla
From Skrilla's website....
Terrance Bankston is a rapper. He goes by the name of Skrilla, slang/street for "money", According to his website, he is referred to as a "professional-thug" and is a native of Baltimore, MD. He also claims that he was the youngest candidate in history to seek public office in 2003. He says that he doesn't want to be the best rapper, but the richest. Furthermore, he lets everyone know that he makes six figures "easy" and calls himself the Prince.
This would be funny if it wasn't so sad. For some more laughs, check out his Myspace page and website.
http://www.myspace.com/getskrilla
http://www.getskrilla.com/main.htm
Go Bankston
Hey collegestudent I'm pretty sure most of you young guys and gals are involved or listen to hip-hop or rap music. None of that speaks to the integrity of an individual or the ability to serve. If Ebony magazine doesn't mind his former career or hobby neither should you. People mature and grow-we all do and continue to. God has clearly called this young man to do something perhaps greater. Lighten up-I think this is great, maybe he can encourage some of these "other" rap heads to get themselves engaged and involved. His run obviously motivated you to come on this politically driven site.Mr. Bankston you've gain a supporter up here in Caldwell and I will spread the news. I LOVE IT!
I don’t care if he raps, taps, or recites poetry ...
Great post- I must agree. I really didn’t get the connection or validity in the student’s post. Now my sister’s friend is in the entertainment business and from what I gather they (managers and publicists) all control those artists’ careers. Most artists from what I hear have very little control on what is marketed and god knows we can’t trust everything people place on a myspace or any of the juvenile site. I don’t care if he raps, taps, or recites poetry as long as he does a better job then the current freeholders. Some young energy will hopefully shake things up-taxes are in deed out of control and I’m not satisfied with the services I’m getting. I look forward to hearing some more from the candidate. I hope the site follows his campaign. More of these youths need to pull their heads away from the tv and ipods and do something that matters.
Bankston is a Newarker
Oh really … well when I lived in South Carolina I use to steal an apple a week off the back of a pick-up truck and I want to hit the lottery and be rich. Oh another thing I want to be one of the best poker players too…please don’t prosecute me. Give me a break! I’m a little sick and tired of elections not being about the issues. I’ll trade a former rapper or whatever any day for some of these lame ducks we have now. He’s a college and graduate school grad and I’ve lived in Newark for some time and I remember his bid for office in 2003-so Mr. Bankston IS a native Newarker who went to Maple Avenue grammar school. Before being a Director in Newark he worked for the county. Those are the facts that are relevant here. We don’t have a bunch a bright bulbs running around therefore we don’t need some “collegestudent” trashing our future. GROW UP!
Thug
I think we have enough thugs running Newark. I guess one self proclaimed one won't hurt. Have you considered that public service is just another hustle for Skrilla? I thought that I would never see a rapping freeholder!
Live your dream and allow him to live his...
Lol-you are naïve...Brace yourself politics has far more surprises in store for you overtime. I’ve been around for many many years. I know a thug, in the sense I assume you mean, when I see one. Trust me collegestudent he’ll do just find. Service is service. In government you serve and in most cases you are under paid. I’ve known of his family for years-public service is second nature. Terrance Bankston has been speaking at council meetings in Newark since he was 11 or 12 many expected this day to come. A hustle is getting something for nothing-he has well proven himself to the community by his service. In fact what experience he may have garnered as an entertainer or whatever have you, will serve as an asset in this line of work. Politics is not all angel work-you need a little thug in you, especially in Newark politics. Besides, even I know that “thug” is a mentality not an action. Malcolm X was called a thug as well as many of our greatest African American leaders. I doubt he continues the rap or that he has been for some time now-he’s frequently in the community and about city hall. Not that it should matter anyway-you don’t elect someone because of their hobbies or former professions, you elect them for the work they have done and will do. Now if he was 35 or older I would find some issues with that-but he’s 24 or 25 and he represents what we call the hip-hop generation. We need different folks with different experiences and backgrounds to help heal and move forward our city. I represent the generation that votes and has carried elections for sometime; therefore I’d like to think my opinion carries some weight. I know sometimes we can become jealous of our peers but you should channel that energy into fulfilling your own. We have enough division amongst people in general-the doors he and others will open for this generation will be groundbreaking.