Keith Hamilton

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Five-term Trenton Mayor Douglas Palmer could face a challenge in 2010 from Keith Hamilton, a longtime Mercer County Freeholder

Mercer County Freeholder Keith Hamilton met with members of his political team yesterday to tell them that he will soon form an exploratory committee to run for Mayor of Trenton in May 2010.  The incumbent, Douglas Palmer, has not yet announced his plans.

The 53-year-old Hamilton, who moved to Trenton from Hamilton Township earlier this year, was first elected Freeholder in 1995 after three years on the Hamilton school board.  He has sought to become the Democratic candidate for State Senator and Assemblyman in the 14th district, always without success.

Palmer has been mayor since 1990, when he defeated interim Mayor Carmen Armenti for the post.  He was re-elected in 2006 by a 53%-22% margin over Freeholder Tony Mack.  This year, he helped Democrats dump Mack from the Freeholder Board.

If Gov. Jon Corzine picks Bonnie Watson Coleman to run for Lt. Governor in 2009, it would spawn two new campaigns: one to replace her on the Democratic ticket for State Assembly in the fifteenth legislative district, and one to pick a new Assembly Majority Leader.   While Watson Coleman lives in Ewing, her seat is widely viewed as the Trenton seat; her brother, Bill Watson, is a top political insider there, and her late father, John Watson, served many years as a City Councilman and Assemblyman.

Four Democrats have indicated their interest in running for Mercer County Freeholder, if incumbent Keith Hamilton gives up his seat to challenge GOP Assembyman William Baroni in the 14th district: former Hamilton Councilman Daniel Benson, who lost a 2005 bid for the State Assembly to Baroni; John Cimino, the son of former Assemblyman/state Commissioner of Personnel Anthony "Skip" Cimino; former Hamilton Councilman Wayne DeAngelo; and Princeton Councilman (and former Mercer County Democratic Executive Director) Andrew Koontz. More candidates are expected to enter the race once Hamilton makes his final decision.

Mercer County Democrats say they will pick their candidate in March at an open convention.