Mercer County Executive Engages in Community Discussion on First 100 Days of His Administration

MERCER COUNTY, NJ - The nation’s history goes through Trenton, Mercer County Executive Dan Benson postulated Wednesday. If his Administration is successful at continuing to chart the course it has set in its first 100 days, so too will Mercer County’s future, he predicted.

During the evening event, Benson engaged in a discussion with several dozen community members, as well as a smattering of local, county, and state elected officials, and members of his team, at Greater Mt. Zion AME Church, a reflection, he said, of his commitment to remain engaged with those he has been elected to serve.

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With a clear eye to the future, Benson recognized the space from where he spoke, using it to reflect on past experience, much of which he never expected to have, as an indicator that it is perhaps a higher power that sets us all on our journeys.

Specifically, he noted his time as Chair of the New Jersey General Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee, a perch from which he was able to advance legislation aimed at righting past missteps in the criminal justice system and making our communities safer.

This experience, he said, helps to shape his Administration’s work in public safety, notably as they seek to ensure that formerly incarcerated individuals have opportunities to chart better futures, and that those who have become embroiled in criminal activity at an early age are not seen as ones that can’t be worked with.

“Those deemed the worst can be redeemed,” Benson said to applause.

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Benson would go on to speak of efforts to improve communication between Mercer County’s government with elected officials at all levels to effectuate the positive changes, and attract the necessary resources to do so. He pointed to a recent interaction with West Windsor where the Township was faced with replacing an expensive and hard to find part of the bus they use to transport senior citizens.

Realizing that the County had buses that weren’t being used, and could be utilized in West Windsor, the matter was resolved quickly and in a more cost-effective way.

“We will continue to talk up to our Congressional representatives and state legislators, and with our mayor and council people,” Benson assured.

Recognizing the diversity of Mercer County, Benson made mention of a recent meeting with global tech giant Google, and a conversation that focused on using their software to translate key documents in up to 15 languages, making them easily accessible to and usable by a wider audience.

Finally, Benson shared a vision for the role Mercer County will play in Trenton’s much sought after renaissance. Starting with improvements to the waterfront, Benson hyped plans to improve Waterfront Park and a nearby strip of green space, and combine that with economic attraction to bring office, retail, and housing to the area, before transitioning to a vision for the future of South Broad Street.

His old neighborhood, he said, Benson left no doubt of his confidence that with the County Administration Building anchoring one side, and Mercer County College the other, Trenton’s Downtown corridor can and will be transformed into a vibrant hub for business and other activities.

As has been his signature since entering the race for Mercer County Executive in 2023, Benson concluded his remarks by inviting those in attendance to be part of his Administration’s efforts.

His goal, he concluded, was not to simply give a speech, but rather to “inspire those listening to bring ideas back to county government.”

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