Bonnie Watson Coleman Sought Pardon For Tucker
The Auditor – Assembly Majority Leader and the Democratic State Chairman, Bonnie Watson Coleman:
In the waning moments of Richard Codey's term as governor, Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman made a plea for a pardon that would have cleared the criminal record of Kiburi Tucker, son of the late Assemblyman Donald Tucker (D-Essex).
Watson Coleman (D-Mercer), the Democratic State Chairman, called Codey's office minutes before he accompanied incoming Gov. Jon Corzine from the Statehouse to the War Memorial for the inauguration.
Watson Coleman said she “felt strongly that he's a young man with a lot of promise and truly regrets his mistakes."
Kiburi Tucker, now 31, served four years in prison for his involvement 10 years ago in a drive-by shooting in Newark. Tucker, who pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and drug possession charges, was released in 2001.
He says he requested the pardon because he wants to run for Newark City Council. Donald Tucker, who served as a councilman at-large for 31 continuous years, was Newark's longest serving councilman.
"It would have been a good thing," says Tucker, who took out petitions to run. "One of my main concerns was to be able to give the constituents who supported my father the same service they are used to."
Note: Former Newark Deputy Mayor and School Board President Evelyn Williams briefly held the Assembly seat from the 28th district, replacing the late Donald Tucker.
Seven days after taking office, Williams was arrested for shoplifting.. Two days later, she was fired from her job with the Essex County Corrections Department for filing for and receiving illegal pension benefits from the state. Williams resigned from the Assembly several days later.
New Jersey Assembly
In the waning moments of Richard Codey's term as governor, Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman made a plea for a pardon that would have cleared the criminal record of Kiburi Tucker, son of the late Assemblyman Donald Tucker (D-Essex).
Watson Coleman (D-Mercer), the Democratic State Chairman, called Codey's office minutes before he accompanied incoming Gov. Jon Corzine from the Statehouse to the War Memorial for the inauguration.
Watson Coleman said she “felt strongly that he's a young man with a lot of promise and truly regrets his mistakes."
Kiburi Tucker, now 31, served four years in prison for his involvement 10 years ago in a drive-by shooting in Newark. Tucker, who pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and drug possession charges, was released in 2001.
He says he requested the pardon because he wants to run for Newark City Council. Donald Tucker, who served as a councilman at-large for 31 continuous years, was Newark's longest serving councilman.
"It would have been a good thing," says Tucker, who took out petitions to run. "One of my main concerns was to be able to give the constituents who supported my father the same service they are used to."
Note: Former Newark Deputy Mayor and School Board President Evelyn Williams briefly held the Assembly seat from the 28th district, replacing the late Donald Tucker.
Seven days after taking office, Williams was arrested for shoplifting.. Two days later, she was fired from her job with the Essex County Corrections Department for filing for and receiving illegal pension benefits from the state. Williams resigned from the Assembly several days later.
New Jersey Assembly
