August 13, 2009 - 1:14pm
News

With Booker's blessing, White poised to lead Bell's staff in Booker-Bell alliance

Central Ward Councilman Charles Bell

City Hall sources confirmed today that not only is Central Ward Councilman Charles Bell a done deal as Mayor Cory Booker's Central Ward candidate, but that Booker protege Nakia J. White will serve as Bell's chief-of-staff.

A victor in a special 2008 election to fill the unexpired term of ousted Councilwoman Dana Rone, Bell is telling his allies he's ready to run for a full, four-year term, and now he has Booker in his corner.

After losing her Central Ward bid to Bell last year, White ran for a School Board seat this spring and won. 

The death of Dwight Brown, Bell's chief of staff, earlier this summer created the key opening at his soffice which sources say White is poised to fill.

As late as this week, White was pondering her options and considering challenging Bell for the Central Ward council seat. Her name remains on the Booker Team's state Elections Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) filing as the mayor's Central Ward candidate, but Booker put her there simply as a placeholder while he and his operatives hammered out the deal with Bell, sources say.

The removal of White from the Central Ward field now leaves Darren Sharif, son of Booker political sensei Carl Sharif, as the most visible and aggresive early challenger in the Central Ward. 

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