NEWARK – A familiar dark coated presence stood on the steps of City Hall this afternoon, lending his voice to the labor protest of President Donald Trump’s choice to head the U.S. Labor Department.

At-Large Councilman Luis Quintana spoke to InsiderNJ briefly about the upcoming April School Board race, and said he is confident an alliance will hold between Mayor Ras Baraka and North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos.

The mayor, powerful North Ward councilman – and himself – will coexist in peace with their support for a fusion ticket in the school board race, Quintana said.

“The coalition is a great coalition,” the former mayor told InsiderNJ. “We are all together. I think it’s a good thing. We haven’t supported each other in the past but we support each other now.”

InsiderNJ asked Quintana if he had any hope of Councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins joining the colation.

“I can’t speak for her,” he said, amid clear signs that the councilwoman plans to go in a different direction.