Andrew Bobbitt, aide and equalizer for Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, did what political pugilists do in this capital city — hit back.
Bobbitt phoned then jabbed Shaheed Morris on Monday with an assertion that an article published here sought to discredit and disgrace his boss.
At no point did Bobbitt discount Mr. Morris’ disturbing revelation that he had been passed over to join the Gusciora public information office at the outset of the mayor’s service by a severely less qualified Caucasian applicant.
In fact, Mr. Morris said he told Bobbitt that he “stood by every word in the article.”
The Gusciora transition team had dismissed the Trenton-born, African American Morris with a college degree for a non-degree holder and non-resident.
Apparently, Bobbitt believed a vendetta exists here for Mayor Gusciora. First, even as an average Joe Citizen, my vote sided with Gusciora, believing like many other voters that his experience as an assemblyman represented a positive for moving city government forward.
Did not vote for any of the current members of City Council, a technicolored feather in my cap as these seven representatives have dwarfed expectations.
A growing beef here deals with the local, county, state and national Democratic Party that’s being exposed as hypocritical, distanced from all their rigamarole that they have cornered the market on equality, fairness, justice, and equal opportunity.
Embarrass Mayor Gusciora? Trenton ranks as a brutally violent U.S. city, yet, Bobbitt puffs and blows smoke this way. Mr. Gusciora has found himself exchanging verbal haymakers with various City Council members and Bobbitt pushes blame toward The Trentonian?
According to Morris, Bobbitt said that The Trentonian had “used him” like a pawn with a mission to topple his king although as the saying expresses wonderfully, Gusciora can do and has done bad all by himself.
Next, Bobbitt dropped a bombshell — he no longer takes calls from this Trentonian employee. Have always worried that this day might arrive, prayed against such a demoralizing occurrence as a day without Andrew Bobbitt ranks just below a 24-hour period without a shooting.
Previous mayors Douglas H. Palmer and Eric Jackson employed Bobbitt as a confidant although except for Gusciora, neither needed the community kingpin to run interference or block downfield.
Gusciora, the city’s first-elected Caucasian mayor in 30 years and a relative newbie with his 10-year residency, can thank Bobbitt in part for his mayoral victory.
Bobbitt served as an intermediary for Gusciora who lacked baseline relationships with many African American residents. His uncanny ability to rally city voters makes him a valuable asset to Democrats.
Anyway, in a perfect world, Andrew Bobbitt would have phoned Morris and talked about what had occurred — brother to brother. Personally, my heart hurt after hearing about Morris’ unfortunate incident.
Morris faced a difficult early life, yet, like many, he climbed out of those circumstances. His grandmother raised him while he pursued education and earned two college degrees. Our conversation included concerns about his emotional state after not being interviewed for a City Hall position.
“I deserved a response, an interview, at the very least,” Morris said.
Unfortunately, Morris would have become a poster child for rehabilitation had his degree been earned while incarcerated in one of New Jersey’s top correctional/educational institutions.
Democrats just love re-entry stories, almost preferring education successes from Trenton State Prison over achievements earned from The College of New Jersey aka Trenton State College.
If the extremely motivated Morris had been incarcerated, supported by myriad initiatives for prison residents, he would have held a Phd upon his release. Interestingly, Morris serves as spokesperson for the New Jersey Dept. of Education.
Time to move on although this administration owes Mr. Morris and others an apology.
Don’t hold your breath.
L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at LAParker@Trentonian.com.
