March 10, 2008 - 1:15pm
News

Booker endorses Bankston for freeholder

Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Council President Mildred Crump, South Ward Councilman Oscar James II, and former Council President Donald Bradley on Saturday officially endorsed Terrance L. Bankston for Essex County Freeholder at-large.

Bankston, 25, a resident of Newark’s South Ward, serves as director of constituency services for the Booker administration.

"During my tenure as a Newark Municipal Council member, Terrance was a volunteer in my office at a young age," Booker said. "Over the years, I have had the distinct pleasure of watching this young man mature into a great student, humanitarian and father.

"Proverbs, Chapter 22, Verse 6 tells us, ‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it,’" Booker added. "It is the obligation of the veteran generation to pass the baton of leadership onto the willing, able and young. I ask that you join me in supporting Terrance Bankston, a man of integrity and humility, who is qualified to lead us forward."

Also interested in pursuing a freeholder bid is Rufus Johnson, chief of staff to Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Essex). A Bankston-Johnson match-up would carry echoes of the 2005 mayoral contest when Booker beat Rice, but Johnson today said he isn't sure he was running.

"I took out petitions, but the party will determine whether I will run," Johnson told PolitickerNJ.com. "If I don’t get the line, I won’t run."

Max Pizarro is a PolitickerNJ.com Reporter and can be reached via email at max@politicsnj.com.