Trenton council elects Gonzalez president after debate over nomination ordinance

The Trenton City Council elected Yasmine Gonzalez as council president and Raja C. Edwards as vice president during its Jan. 2, 2025, reorganization meeting, following extended debate over the council—s ordinance on the nomination process.

Council members were sworn in at the start of the meeting and then moved to select leadership for the new term. The first nomination, to consider Councilwoman Jenna Figueroa Kettenberg for council president as the council—s vice president, was seconded and then challenged by several members who said the ordinance required wider opportunity for nominations and discussion. After a roll-call vote on that first nomination failed, the council received and approved a subsequent nomination of Yasmine Gonzalez, which carried in a roll-call vote.

The dispute centered on language in Ordinance 23-011 (adopted April 2023) that says the council vice president "shall be the 1st nominee for council consideration and vote as the new council president." City Attorney Wes Bridges read the provision into the record and said the plain language required that the vice president be the first nominee and placed before the council for an immediate vote. "The vice president shall be the 1st nominee for council consideration and vote as the new council president," Bridges stated.

Several council members urged a different practice. "I was hoping that we could have a prior discussion before we vote because we did not have a collective conversation," said Councilwoman Frisbie during debate. Another council member proposed a compromise allowing the vice president to be the first nominee while still entertaining additional nominations before closing the floor and calling separate votes for each nominee; council legal staff said that procedure would be acceptable so long as the vice president was the first considered.

After the initial nomination failed, the council nominated and voted on Yasmine Gonzalez for council president. During the roll call on that motion several council members recorded affirmative votes and the motion carried. The meeting then moved to select a vice president; following nominations and a roll call, the council elected Raja C. Edwards as vice president.

The council—s selection of leadership followed the council—s established ordinance but highlighted tension among members about transparency and the opportunity to present alternative nominees before an immediate vote. City Attorney Bridges and council members agreed to review the ordinance language to avoid similar procedural disputes going forward.

Actions at the meeting were recorded as formal motions and roll-call votes; the council documented the failed initial nomination and the later successful nominations.

Council members who participated in the discussion and votes included (first reference with role): Council President Yasmine Gonzalez; Council Vice President Raja C. Edwards; Councilwoman Jenna Figueroa Kettenberg; Councilwoman Jennifer C. Williams; Councilman Joseph A. Harrison; Councilwoman Frisbie; Councilwoman Feliciano; Councilwoman Evans; City Attorney Wes Bridges; Municipal Clerk Brandon Garcia.

The council moved on to other business and resolved to revisit the ordinance language in future meetings to clarify nomination and voting order.