East Orange Mayor-elect Ted Green, center, stands with, from left, 1st Ward Councilman Chris James, Bo Kemp, 3rd Ward Councilwoman Quilla Talmadge, publicist Tracy Munford, 5th Ward Councilman Mustafa Brent and 4th Ward Councilman Casim Gomez on Thursday, Nov. 9, following the press conference announcing the formation of his transition team that’s going to handle the transition in city government from outgoing Mayor Lester Taylor to his incoming administration, after he is officially sworn into office at his inauguration on New Year’s Day, Monday, Jan. 1. Kemp is serving as the Green transition team’s executive director, with Munford as chairwoman and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker as honorary chairman. Lieutenant Governor-elect Sheila Oliver served as the honorary chairwoman of Green’s successful mayoral campaign.
EAST ORANGE, NJ — Mayor-elect Ted Green hasn’t missed a beat since winning the municipal election on Tuesday, Nov. 7, with an overwhelming 97 percent of the votes cast. On Thursday, Nov. 9, he hosted a press conference at the 3rd Ward Community Information Center to announce the formation of his official transition team.
Green announced that U.S. Sen. Cory Booker will be serving as the honorary chairman of his team, similar to how Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver, who will be the new lieutenant governor, served as the honorary chairwoman of Green’s successful mayoral campaign. Bo Kemp of the Faegre BD consulting firm will serve as team’s executive director and veteran publicist Tracy Munford will serve as chairwoman.
Neither Booker nor Oliver were at Green’s transition team announcement, although Booker did send a message to Green congratulating him on his victory and promising to help with the transition after Green is officially be sworn into office on New Year’s Day at the East Orange City Council’s annual reorganization meeting.
“I am honored to serve as honorary chair of Mayor-elect Ted Green’s transition team,” Booker said in the message Thursday, Nov. 9. “I have worked with both Ted and Bo over the years and, more recently, have had a greater opportunity to work with Ted on building capacity and community around important issues affecting East Orange. I look forward to serving the people of East Orange through the transition process.”
Green said he was grateful for Booker’s support during the mayoral campaign, when they walked the streets of the 3rd Ward to meet people, and he’s thankful for his continued support.
“I am grateful for the leadership and support the senator has brought to East Orange,” said Green on Tuesday, Nov. 7. “I want to thank him and … Sheila Oliver for their leadership, their support and their commitment to me and, more importantly, to the people of East Orange.”
Green also thanked those who cast their votes for him and his Team Green in 2017 running mates. According to the Essex County Clerk’s Office official website, he received 99.89 percent of the 10,365 total votes cast for mayor of East Orange. He had received 97 percent of the vote in the Democratic Party primary on Tuesday, June 6.
According to county records, the Green Team in 2017 incumbents that ran unopposed for re-election with Green on his slate of City Council candidates also had strong Election Day numbers. Elected were 1st Ward Councilman Chris James with 99.75 percent; 2nd Ward Councilman Romal Bullock with 100 percent; 4th Ward Councilwoman Tyshammie Cooper with 99.93 percent, 5th Ward Councilwoman Alicia Holman with 99.81 percent, and Bergson Leneus with 77.46 percent of the vote.
“I want to thank the people of East Orange for their support these past 12 years as a member of the City Council and certainly in my role as chairman for the past two years,” said Green on Thursday, Nov. 9. “I am especially appreciative of the historic number of citizens who voted for me on Election Day. History was made, not only for me, but also in the City Council, with the election of Bergson Leneus and, in the state of New Jersey, with our new lieutenant governor, Sheila Oliver.”
Leneus was also absent from the transition team announcement event, which meant all eyes were on Kemp and Munford. Kemp formerly worked with Booker and has a background in municipal utilities management and infrastructure and economic development for legacy cities, including Newark and Gary, Ind.
Munford has more than 25 years of experience in communications, public relations, community and relationship strategies in a number of fields and areas of expertise, including local, county, state and federal government.
“East Orange will always be my home,” said Munford on Thursday, Nov. 9. “I have known and admired the mayor-elect for more than 30 years. I am witness to his commitment, dedication and vision for a better East Orange. I am honored to serve and look forward to a better ‘EO’ under his leadership.”
Kemp worked with Booker and others in Newark for eight years during his two consecutive terms as the mayor of that city and is also familiar with local terminology and jargon related to his new job as executive director of the Green transition team, where he will oversee its day-to-day operations in support of Green, including reviewing and developing strategies in government policy, staffing and resources.
Kemp will also direct the overall operation of the various related transition teams currently being formed to address the incoming administration’s specific areas of interest in the city and local government.
“The teams will present their transition plans and recommendations to the mayor-elect by Jan. 1 and will continue to shape the first 100 days of the new administration,” said Kemp on Thursday, Nov. 9. “I am honored to have been chosen by Mayor-elect Green to lead his transition team and the process for taking East Orange to the next level. We are moving forward, conducting our due diligence and preparing city employees and processes so that … Green can begin working as mayor on Jan. 2.”
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