Trenton council president loses re-election bid

Two Trenton City council incumbents were re-elected by wide margins in Tuesday’s runoff election, while a third lost his seat in a landslide.

In the race for an open East Ward council seat, Joseph Harrison leads Taiwanda Terry-Wilson by just three votes, 764 to 761.  Harrison lost a runoff to Verlina Reynolds-Jackson four years ago.  Reynolds-Jackson left the council in February after her election to the State Assembly.

Council President Zachary Chester lost his West Ward council seat to challenger Robin Vaughn.  Vaughn won 67% of the vote – 2,122 to 1,049.    She was the top vote-getter in the May 8 municipal election, while Chester just barely made the runoff against third-place finisher Shirley Gaines.

Incumbents Marge Caldwell-Wilson and George Muschal nearly won their seats outright last month, each getting 47% of the vote.  Both won easily.

Caldwell-Wilson won 66% against Algernon Ward, Jr., 1,250 to 657.  Muschal defeated Damian Malave by a 61%-39% margin, 856 to 549.