If we asked people on the street to name three hot political topics, it is unlikely that’ll be a problem. Issues such as women’s reproductive rights, immigration, and inflation currently consume the news cycle—and for a good reason. The 2024 presidential election is underway, and our next leader will be responsible for handling those issues. America is clear on who’s running and where they stand. But—if we were to ask those same people, ‘Who is running to serve in your city’s council?’ we’re not sure we’d receive an answer.

The media, presidential campaign messaging, and activists have done a great job informing people about what’s at stake in the national election and the importance of voting. Their efforts have and will continue to pay off. New Jersey voter registration hit an election cycle high in August, adding more than 23,000 votes, and Georgia’s early voter records broke on Tuesday with more than 328,000 ballots cast. Americans feel the gravity of the presidential election, but that same concern is not felt locally.

A study shows that only 15 to 27 percent of eligible voters cast a ballot in their local election compared to 2020 when 66 percent of the voting-eligible population turned out for the national election. That’s a huge gap in participation. Local politics arguably affect residents’ day-to-day lives more than national politics, yet there’s less involvement. National and local officials work in tandem to get things done. Therefore, staying abreast of regional politics is essential for knowing who’s responsible for your quality of life.

Luckily for Trenton residents, efforts are made to inform and encourage voter participation at every level. Trentonians have a vast network of resources, people, and groups committed to creating a politically active town.

“I believe that fundamental civic education is something that is missing in the Trenton area,” says Jacqui Dent Ivey, Owner of the Conservatory Mansion and creator of the MultiMedia Interactive Civics Exhibit. Ivey details the campaign promises of local and national politicians running for office in her exhibit. It includes a very informative breakdown of Trenton’s wards and representatives. “Knowing where to go and who to speak with regarding basic daily concerns as residents is not something that is knowledgeable,” she says. Her work at the Conservatory Mansion is committed to fixing that issue. She also has stations explaining government terms-to-know, Project 2025, and a voter registration section. As a civically engaged Trenton native, she finds joy in informing people about politics. And she’s not an anomaly.

Ivey informed us about organizations and individuals hosting brunches, galas, and webinars to increase voter turnout. People understand the importance of the local election and desire their neighbors to understand, too. According to her, Trenton council members advocate for issues such as illegal dumping, abandoned housing, speed bumps, and optimal street lighting. Illegal dumping affects the experience of walking kids to school if there is a stench, speed bumps extend safety as children play outside, street lights help students walk back after practice when daylight savings commence in the fall, as it gets darker earlier, regulating abandoned housing manages illegal activity happening in communities. The “small” things that enhance your livelihood create thriving neighborhoods. The city council members approve budgets and propose solutions for the “small” things that make your town a great place to live. That’s the impact of a local election!

Trenton has a rich history, is home to many landmarks, and, ofcourse, is the state’s capital. It’s also a melting pot of cultures. Forty percent of the city is Black, 44 percent is Hispanic, and 10 percent is White. 61 percent of the population spans from Genz to GenX. There’s so much opportunity to pull on the wisdom, expertise, and experience of different races and generations to create a great community.

When asked how to get Trentonians involved in the local election, Dennisse Calle, a Hispanic Trenton resident, said that “there needs to be more media outreach (TV, radio, WhatsApp) and conversations happening in different languages.” Discussions can’t happen if the information isn’t being translated into the residents’ languages. In a conversation with Ivey, she mentioned that while building out the MultiMedia Interactive Civics Exhibit, getting information about the candidates, period, was difficult. Some candidates running for a seat to represent their ward have no outlined website, media, or objectives. Residents like Ivey are doing all they can to keep the community informed, but the people looking to represent the community aren’t providing information to begin with. In some neighborhoods, it’s necessary for candidates to have websites and participate in debates. That’s not the case in Trenton, but moving forward, that’s a conversation to be had with the government to increase buzz and local voter turnout.

Either there’s no competition or the same people from the previous election are running for Trenton’s council again. There’s a representative from the North, South, East, and West wards, along with three seats to represent the city as a whole. East Ward Councilman Joseph Harrison and North Ward Councilwoman Jennifer Williams are running uncontested. Meaning no one is running against them. They are also currently in office. West Ward Councilwoman Teska Frisby seeks a second term against Mary A. Horne. The South Ward’s current councilwoman, Jenna Figueroa-Kettenburg, is running in a rematch against Damian Malave and Evangeline Ugorji. 

Though we’ve emphasized the importance of the local election, local politics doesn’t operate completely separate from the federal government. For example, President Biden worked toward passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. To date, $480 billion has been awarded for over 60,000 projects. In New Jersey, $5.6 billion of that bill has been awarded to upgrade our transportation. Though local officials had nothing to do with passing that law, they are responsible for tracking projects in Trenton with that federal funding. In 2023, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Trenton would receive nearly $2 million from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to clean up a former industrial site. It’s important to elect people you trust locally to carry out a national agenda. 

The government is one giant organism. Local and national officials work in tandem to make America the international giant it is. That’s why it’s crucial to be involved at all levels. Look beyond a candidate’s messaging and study their policies and agendas. How will they actually plan on fulfilling their talking points? Accountability is key. If you want to hold officials accountable after the election, look no further than the Black church. The organization Salvation and Social Justice, headquartered in Trenton, recently held a press conference to discuss their plans to get people to the polls and remain active in politics after whomever is sworn into office nationally and locally. “People look to the church for truth,” said Dr. Charles F. Boyer, Founder of the movement. Whether hosting voter registration rallies, lunch and learns, or providing a toolkit for pastors to discuss politics on Sunday mornings, the churches within his network believe the truth will set people free and are committed to ensuring candidates remain truthful.

Trenton has unlimited potential. It’s up to the residents to ensure their elected officials are unlocking it.

This story was produced as part of the NJ Black Publishers Election 2024 Collaborative
Coverage, in partnership with the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University.
The following is a list of participating newsrooms: 

Black In Jersey

The Trenton Journal

Ark Republic

Front Runner New Jersey

NJ Urban News

Trenton 365

Atlantic City Focus

Faithfully Magazine

The Echo Press