South Ward Native Will Run For Newark City Council

NEWARK, NJ — One of the youngest candidates ever to seek an elected seat on the local school board in Newark has declared his candidacy for South Ward Council Member in 2018.

Terrance Bankston, a Newark Arts High School and Bloomfield College alum, announced his intent to run for a seat on the Newark City Council last week. The 34-year-old South Ward native states on his campaign website that he looks forward to challenging the community’s young people to make positive contributions to society.

“Residents of the South Ward want accountability and measurable results,” Bankston said. “With home foreclosures at its highest, considering our Clinton Hill community, is experiencing not just the highest crime within the city’s ward, but also the highest criminal activity in the country. The aforementioned, coupled with having greatest loss city-wide of our community public schools, is not moving Newark in a positive direction. In 2018, it’s clear that while the City of Newark may be performing better overall, the South Ward of Newark is performing at its worst ever.”

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According to Bankston, he has received early campaign endorsements from former South Ward Councilman, Mr. Oscar S. James II, Mr. Darryl Taylor, a longtime community activist and Director for the Weequahic High School marching band, Ms. D. Kim Thompson-Gaddy and Ms. Flohisha Johnson, who are members of the Newark Public Schools’ elected board, Mr. Leonard Anton Wheeler, a former Deputy Mayor under the Sharpe James’ administration in Newark, a former elected school board member and presently a Dean of Students at a North Star Academy middle school, Mr. Altorice Frazier, a Statewide Parent Organizer, Mr. Todd Warren, a Newark Native, a former school administrator in Newark and Director of the Orange Police Department, Brian Logan (retired NPD Detective) and Derrick Foster (NPD Detective), both long-time community engagement specialist in Newark, New Jersey, Ms. Mildred “10-4” Evans and Ms. Mary Darden, long time South Ward community activists and also Mr. Bernard C. Young, the present Council President of the Baltimore, Maryland Municipal Council.

BANKSTON’S BACKGROUND

According to a campaign news release:

“[Bankston] graduated in the year of 2000 from Arts High School as a Television Communications Major. Terrance then went on to attain a Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science with a concentration in Public Administration from Bloomfield College of New Jersey in 2004. Afterwards Terrance attained his Master’s Degree in Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2007. Terrance has brought leadership and passion and energy to the many issues we face day to day.”

The campaign release continued:

“In 2003, Terrance was the youngest ever to seek an elected seat on the local school board. Between 2005 and 2010 Terrance was hired as a political operative for the then Mayor and now U.S. Senator, Cory A. Booker. Terrance also served as a field director for several local, county and state officials, including current or former councilpersons Mildred C. Crump, Carlos Gonzalez and Donald Payne Jr. In addition, serving as a campaign field director for Senator Teresa Ruiz, Assemblywoman Grace Spencer and Governor Jon Corzine. Between 2009 and 2013 Terrance also served as a Director of the Newark Youth One Stop Career Center, which he quickly led the agency to becoming the #1 youth one stop statewide. Under Terrance’s leadership the agency not only met and exceeded all federal and state Workforce Investment Act (WIA) measurements, but also exceeded the state’s literacy rate for at-risk youth ages 14-24. Finally, Terrance made history again in 2011, when he contested the Democratic Party for the Essex County District 2 Freeholder seat against the incumbent. Terrance garnered close to 30% against the democratic line and the incumbent during the June 2011 primary election. Terrance ran as an independent democratic that year. The electoral percentage he garnered was the highest ever attained against the line while contesting any freeholder incumbent. In 2018, we can stand proud of Terrance as he has also been recognized by Ebony Magazine as the top 30 under 30 young leaders on the rise in America in 2008. Terrance is the Chairman of Parent University New Jersey and is presently a candidate for South Ward council member in Newark, New Jersey.”

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Photo: Terrance Bankston