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‘It’s not fair,’ says Paterson councilman-elect stopped from taking office | Paterson Times

‘It’s not fair,’ says Paterson councilman-elect stopped from taking office

mendez-protest

Nearly a hundred people stood behind councilman-elect Alex Mendez across the street from City Hall on Wednesday afternoon protesting a court ruling that stopped their candidate from assuming the 3rd Ward seat.

“It’s not fair. It’s not fair what they’re doing. They are using their power to take me out of office and denying people from being represented,” said Mendez, who is accused of committing voter fraud and election fraud, as he watched councilman Michael Jackson, who is accused of nearly the same offenses, get sworn in. “Where is the due process? Where is the innocent until proven guilty? This is political.”

Jackson’s main rival, Nakima Redmon, never filed anything in court to stop him from taking office.

Mendez was stopped from taking office by an injunction secured by his main opponent longtime councilman William McKoy. He tried unsuccessfully to reverse judge’s decision hours before the swearing-in ceremony for the winners of the May 12 election.

Mendez’s supporters held up signs: “Respect Our Vote,” “Stop Abusing Power,” and “Andre Resign.”

At times, the Mendez supporters chanted his name, drowning out speakers at the swearing-in ceremony.

They booed mayor Andre Sayegh as he delivered remarks at the ceremony.

“Looks like I have a fan club,” said Sayegh. “I guess somebody doesn’t want me to speak.”

Some of Mendez’s supporters have blamed the mayor for his legal woes. Sayegh has also called for Mendez and Jackson to resign after both men were charged with voter fraud.

Governor Phil Murphy, who is allied to Sayegh, has also called on both men to step aside.

McKoy has filed a lawsuit seeking to invalidate the results of the 3rd Ward election. A judge has yet to hear the case.

In the meantime, the 3rd Ward seat will remain vacant.

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  • Paterson Resident

    One was sworn in and the other wasnt?

  • http://www.Newjerseypulse.com New Jersey Pulse News Opinions

    You can't invalidate an election after all of them has been sworn in so that's not an option now.
    Sayegh is fully responsible for this mess, he has been targeting any Lotino leader who is a challenge to him in 2022. He's responsible of removing Torres while his crimes are worst.
    Now the only thing the Latino community can do is get the 3.300 signatures necessary to get rid of him.
    The can team up with the Black community who Sayegh said Jameek Lowery was not killed but died of Mangiest.
    I"m not for anyone, I just hate this kind of manipulations and evil, that it is in power.
    RECALL SAYEGH!
    Judge Caposela is controlled by the Democratic Party, that's why Mendez was blocked but Jackson was not. Mendez attorney need to go Federal, Caposela made it clear he controls all the judges even in the appalled courts.
    The fact that he let one in an blocked the other is a violation of the Equal Protection Act. and a violate of Due Process, basically convicting Mendez without going through the process, he also invalidate and disfranchised all those voters.
    Caposela needs to be removed and he should stop calling other judges, he will be caught sooner or later.
    He was facing Ethics charges, he was not asked to be remove before it was resolved.
    So more corruption in the courts as well.

  • TK Kirkland

    One less scumbag

  • DemocrapSocialistsSuck

    The idiot with the American flag mask spelled "Intimidation" wrong lol

  • Yogi Zuna

    One has an injunction filed against them, the other does not.

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