Politics & Government

Getting to Know the Candidates: MaryEllen McLeod

Trenton Patch editor Nate Stemen asked city council candidate MaryEllen McLeod three questions.

Incumbent city council member MaryEllen McLeod has been practicing law for over 30 years.

McLeod specializes in the defense of doctors, hospitals and other health care providers in medical malpractice cases.

Though she was not born and raised in Trenton McLeod said, "please make no mistake Trenton is my home."

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"I love this community and I am running for the city council position because I bring value to this community," McLeod said.

McLeod is married to her husband Rick and has three children. Each of her children graduated from Trenton Public Schools.

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Trenton Patch editor Nate Stemen asked each candidate the same three questions. McLeod's answers are as such:

Why run for the position you are running for? What can you offer that no one else can?

I am running for Trenton City Council for several reasons.  First, I believe that I provide value to our residents by virtue of the fact that I have an inquisitive mind.  I want to know the basis for what is being proposed by the Administration and whether other viable options have been considered. 

I ask questions.  Trenton residents tell me that they appreciate that fact. Moreover, whenever we have studied an issue that later comes to the Council Table for a decision, I ask for an explanation to be given to the residents, so that they will understand how we arrived at the decision that we did.  Trenton residents deserve no less.

Second, I believe that Trenton needs strong and experienced leadership to maintain the strength and stability of our City.  I hope that I have demonstrated to the people that I can – and will – make the hard decisions for the sake of the city as a whole.  Because of strong leadership on your council, Trenton is much better positioned than many cities to weather this economy.  No one wants an inexperienced driver at the wheel in the middle of a storm.

I am the only lawyer among the candidates.  I have been in practice for 30 years and have achieved the highest skill and ethical rating by Martindale-Hubbell.  Although I specialize in the defense of doctors, hospitals and other health care providers in medical malpractice cases, I also have a strong background in contract law, risk transfer and risk management.  Over the eight years that I’ve served on council, I believe that I have had an influence in these areas, protecting and benefitting the city as a whole.

I also manage a law office and am responsible for the administration of a substantial budget, as well as personnel.  I am keenly aware of what is going on in corporate America.

Finally, on a lighter note, I am the only candidate who can bring a female perspective to the table.

What do you think is the number one problem facing the city of Trenton? How do you intend to resolve the problem?

How to ensure the safety of, and deliver quality services to, Trenton residents in the face of declining revenues.

Your city council has worked very closely with administration to reduce positions through attrition and reorganization.  At this point, though, we are very lean.  However, we are blessed with the advantage of motivated workers who love this city and who work hard to deliver the same, superior level of services that our residents have come to expect.  We will continue to court new businesses and to look for additional opportunities to share services with other cities and/or regionally.

With the budget getting more and more difficult to balance each year, what are you willing to cut to keep the city’s budget balanced? What aren’t you willing to cut?

Non-essential services.  I have proposed on a number of occasions that the mayor and council hold a meeting – like a “town hall” – so that we can hear from the residents as to what their priorities are and what they are willing to forego in order to have a balanced budget.  I think that we owe it to the people to hear what the people have to say on this subject.

I would not compromise Public Safety, Police and Fire Protection.

Look for the final two candidates Thursday and Friday on Trenton Patch.


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