In this coming mayoral election, Trenton stands at a moral and practical crossroads. I have spent the past year offering insight into what it will truly take to lead a city in crisis toward transformation. And as I look at the field of candidates — many of whom are dear friends, connected through families, churches, and shared history — I see both great potential and great danger. In a small city like ours, relationships run deep. Friends will run against friends. Families will be split between relatives. Long-standing bonds can become strained by political competition. This can easily become divisive — not because people do not care, but precisely because they care so much. But love without discernment has cost Trenton dearly. Gene Bouie (Submitted photo) For too many years, elections have been shaped by personal loyalties, emotional ties, and popularity contests rather than a sober assessment of competence and readiness. We cannot continue down that path. The challenges facing Trenton today — operational collapse, financial instability, unsafe neighborhoods, poor service quality, aging infrastructure, and eroded trust — demand a leader who is prepared now, not someday. Supporting someone we care about who is not yet ready is not loyalty. It is doing them a disservice. And more importantly, it places the entire city in harm’s way. Leadership is not a sentimental calling. It is an awesome responsibility. Compassion is a powerful compass, but compassion must never replace competence. Love can guide judgment, but it cannot substitute for the readiness required to run a city. Some people may be fully prepared. Others believe they are ready but are not. And some are almost ready — close, but still needing seasoning, experience, and growth. The difference matters. And it matters right now. Sun Tzu said in The Art of War: “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to.” Not every desire is destiny. Timing is everything. Wisdom is knowing when your moment has arrived — and when it has not. My prayer is simple: Those who are not ready, or almost ready, must not allow ambition, excitement, or ego to cloud their judgment. Their time may indeed come — but only when preparation meets responsibility. To enter a race prematurely is to risk embarrassment, division, and unintended harm to the very community we all want to uplift. This election must be different. We must evaluate candidates on clear, observable evidence of potential success right now: Can the candidate articulate what they will do — in real detail? Can they explain how they will do it — through processes, metrics, timelines, and measurable outcomes? Do they understand why each action matters for the city’s long-term health? And most importantly: Can they clearly differentiate themselves — not through personality or popularity, but through competence, experience, character, and a disciplined strategy for governing? If the answer is no, then love requires us to say: Not yet. Keep preparing. Your time will come. If the answer is yes, then unity commands us to rally behind the person capable of delivering transformation. Trenton cannot withstand another decade of leadership chosen by emotion rather than readiness. We no longer have the luxury of trial-and-error governance. This is a moment for clear thinking, strong discernment, and a willingness to put the city’s survival above personal relationships. I believe in our people. I believe in our capacity to rise above division and choose wisely. I believe that hearts, once properly guided, will not turn against hearts — but instead turn toward the future we all deserve. If Trenton is truly a city worth fighting for, then we must also elect leaders who are truly prepared to do the fighting. CALL TO ACTION: A Higher Standard for a Higher Future Now is the time for all of us — residents, clergy, unions, educators, business owners, neighborhood leaders, and community elders — to step forward with courage and clarity. Let us commit to the following: 1. Demand evidence, not emotion. Ask every candidate to show their plan, their process, and their proof of readiness. 2. Protect our relationships while protecting our city. Do not let political competition turn heart against heart. Speak truth with love. 3. Discern readiness with compassion. If someone we love is not prepared, encourage them — but do not push them toward a battlefield they cannot yet win. 4. Unify behind competence. Rally around the leader who is prepared today to rescue and rebuild Trenton. Trenton’s next chapter will be written by the choices we make right now. Let us choose with wisdom. Let us choose with courage. Let us choose with love — and with the uncompromising belief that our city’s future is too important to leave to emotion alone. Editor’s Note: This is part of a series of OpEds from Brother Gene Bouie discussing what leadership in Trenton needs in order to build a better future for the city. Read more here: The Power of Strategic Thinking Fiscal Responsibility Economic Growth Quality Government Operational Excellence People-Centered Development Public Safety Community Wellness – an Integrated Approach A Call to Higher Standards The Courage to Confront Trenton’s Truths The next mayor of Trenton must reduce the poverty rate Reclaiming Our Identity: How Trenton Can Make Again and Revive Its Economy Trenton cannot rise above its operations ...read more read less