6 candidates vying to be next mayor of Trenton

TRENTON, N.J. (WPVI) -- Trenton residents will vote next week for a new mayor. Six candidates are vying to fill the seat of former mayor Tony Mack, who was thrown out of office after his conviction in a bribery scam.

Jim Golden is a former Trenton Police Director and has also headed security at the Philadelphia Airport and Philadelphia School District.

He says, "The number one issue for Trenton right now, as I see it, is reducing crime and the fears of crime, while at the same time working with our school system to improve education for children throughout the city."

Eric Jackson is the city's former Public Works Director and now holds that job in Plainfield. He says his background will make a difference.

"It's leadership, experience, ethical behavior, honesty and transparency back to government but beyond anything else it's the experience of over 20 years in municipal government," Jackson said.

Oliver "Bucky" Leggett is a former Trenton city councilman, ran the city's housing authority, was deputy mayor of Philadelphia and wants to bring back values he was raised with.

Leggett explains his experience, "Taught me to be able to ignore your personal aggrandizement and look for ways in which you get the highest public good out of what you do."

Community activist Kathy McBride started Mothers Against Violence after her son was killed in a shooting. She's now a councilwoman-at-large.

McBride tells us, "I'm a no-nonsense type of individual and I think Trenton now needs strong leadership. We need to be able to stand up and take responsibility for our city."

Paul Perez spent decades in the Army and as a civilian in law enforcement and has returned to his hometown to bring new blood.

I represent a new direction," Perez says. "These guys are all tied to the last 30 years. They've already served here. We already know what they're gonna give us."

Walker Worthy is Mercer County's deputy clerk. He's worked in state government for years and is tired of corruption and cronyism.

Worthy said, "A lot of the restaurants and a lot of businesses have packed it up and left. But under my administration Trenton is gonna be open for business but it will not be for sale."

The election is next Tuesday. If no candidate gets more than 50-percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters will move in to a runoff.