Hamilton eyes Trenton mayor's race
By Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ.com Reporter
Even as the gubernatorial battle absorbs attention now and for the duration, next year's Trenton mayoral election looms as one of the more interesting contests of 2010.
In the shuffle of people intent on succeeding 20-year retiring Mayor Douglas Palmer, stands Mercer County Freeholder Keith V. Hamilton, who's built name identification as a 14-year member of the board.
He hasn't yet formally announced, but the Trenton native who raised his family in neighboring Hamilton Township and moved back to Trenton two years ago, is ready to spring into campaign mode after the resolution of the governor's race.
"I'm keeping my powder dry at the moment but I intend to run, yes," Hamilton told PolitickerNJ.com at a Democratic Party fundraiser tonight at Padrino's in Hamilton Township.
Hamilton formed an exploratory committee and registered with the state Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) earlier this year.
"I'm a supporter of Gov. Jon Corzine's, and I would like to see him win re-election in part because as mayor I know I would already have a relationship with the governor," said the freeholder. "I don't know Christie."
An Air Force veteran, and vice president of Community Relations at SERV Behavioral Health System, Inc., Hamilton said he wants to make education improvement in his native town a touchstone for his mayoral campaign. He also wants to improve relaations between New Jersey's capital city and the outlying area, broadening and strengthening community relations in Lawrenceville, Ewing and Hamilton.
A public staple for two decades in Trenton, Palmer may prove a kingmaker next year, and sources say if he decides to back anyone among a fast growing field of successor aspirants he's likely to align with Council President Paul Pintella.
Other candidates include former Freeholder Tony Mack; Councilman Manny Segura; Alexander Brown, the board vice president and an official at the state Department of Transportation; Councilwoman Annette Lartigue; and John Harmon, former president of the Metropolitan Trenton African-American Chamber of Commerce.
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Really? You have to be kidding me.
The man is a loser. Besides being a do nothing Freeholder, Hamilton doesn't have what it takes to be mayor. Besides, for a man who has lived in Hamilton for the last 30 years, what makes him think he can just waltz into Trenton and become mayor? He just realized that his numerous ploys to move up the ladder (state assemblyman etc.) have been dismal failures so he decides to come to Trenton.
BTW, on the Mercer Freeholders page it still says Hamilton is a resident of Hamilton Township! You mean to tell me that he has been in Trenton for two years and that hasn't been reflected in his biography? And by the way, he only moved to Trenton after his wife kicked him out the house!