Booker aide eyes Essex County Freeholder race

The 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."