Trenton candidates may have to release personal credit reports

A Trenton councilwoman is introducing a resolution that would urge candidates for public office in the city to disclose their personal credit information.

 

City Councilwoman Phyllis Holly-Ward said she’s been considering the idea for a while but is pushing for it now because of the financial troubles surrounding Trenton Mayor Tony Mack, who is awaiting trial on federal bribery charges.

“If you can’t manage your personal finances, there’s no way that you could really look at this budget and understand it,” she said Wednesday. “What’s going on right now is the best example that you can give with the mayor.”

Providing that information would help restore confidence in elected officials, said George Muschal, council president.

“They put the people in there with trust that they’re going to lead the city forward or lead the government forward, and this is a big responsibility,” he said. “I mean, anybody who would object to this, then there is a problem there, I have a problem. If somebody is going to say, ‘I don’t want you to go in my background or anything…’ Why, what do you have to hide?”

Three other council members support the resolution that will be voted on later this month. Holly-Ward said she hopes to make the financial disclosure mandatory next year.