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Paterson council considers filling vacant 2nd Ward seat | Paterson Times

Paterson council considers filling vacant 2nd Ward seat

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Members of the City Council will consider filling the 2nd Ward seat on Tuesday night.

Municipal officials said the favorite for the seat is Gilman Choudhury, who is mostly known for running a robotics program at John F. Kennedy High School and getting high school students into Ivy League colleges.

Choudhury was among a list of candidates whose names were floated for the seat. Among the names were veteran Tony Vancheri, former councilmen Ken McDaniel and Aslon Goow, and former school board member Eddie Gonzalez.

Some even floated the names of former councilmen Shahin Khalique and Mohammed Akhtaruzzaman. Neither Khalique nor Akhtaruzzaman had enough votes to claim the 2nd Ward seat after the May 12 election.

Both men were tied after three recounts.

Khalique and Akhtaruzzaman also wanted the appointment for themselves. But the City Council has always held – except for the case of the 6th Ward appointment two years ago – that anyone who is appointed to a vacancy avoids running for that seat during the special election.

Choudhury has reached out to both Khalique and Akhtaruzzaman, according to sources, so as to not cause offense. All three men hail from the city’s growing Bangladeshi-American community.

If appointed, Choudhury would serve as the 2nd Ward councilman for approximately five months.

A special election is scheduled for November.

Council members will consider filling the vacancy on Tuesday night.

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  • John

    Who the hell would want to have any public position in such a shit hole. I just don't get it.

    • TK Kirkland

      They do it for the perks and gloating rights. Eddie Gonzalez is a great, passionate guy and hard worker. I remember him working security @StJoes in his younger days. If anyone deserves a seat it’s him. Can’t say the same for any other runner and current council head.

  • http://www.facebook.com/animalabusewar Animal Abuse War

    This ward was beautiful,quiet,clean until aslon grow left. It went straight downhill fast since then,really bad.So from experience,I suggest mr. Goow becomes the permanent councilman for this ward.we can't risk another motion coming in and letting this ward get any worse than it already is.Mr. Goow went out of his way,after work hours,without pay,to check the neighborhood, stop and visit businesses, e.t.c- he came out anytime anyone called him, the last time a robbery at 1am by ryerson. He is what this ward needs

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