April 19, 2008 - 1:20pm
Torres threatens to play more public role in Ward 2 council race
By Max Pizarro
Paterson Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres
PATERSON - Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres has not publicly endorsed anyone for city council, but today he said he may get into the Ward 2 tousle if he feels it becomes a matter of having to punch back.
"As the highest vote-getter in the last two elections, I hope most people are with me," said Torres, who on Saturday appeared at the Great Falls with U.S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA.) and U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-8).
Torres’s adversary, Councilman Aslon Goow, laughs at the notion that Torres isn’t already in the Ward 2 council race. According to Goow, the mayor intentionally rushed a firefighters’ contract and dropped it in the laps of the council in an election year.
Torres said the firefighters have been without a contract for three years and the retroactive pay increases fall within the national average for such contracts.
Longtime Torres ally Elizabeth Gonzalez is challenging Goow, along with mason contractor John Larko.
"She has a wonderful record," Torres said of Gonzalez, whose husband, Luis Rosado, left the council amid scandal after he fled the scene of a car accident.
"It’s too early to tell," the mayor said in response to a question about when, if at all, he would take a more active public role in municipal elections.
"Remember, Councilman Goow was very open in his endorsement of (former Police chief Lawrence) Spagnola in the last election," Torres said. "If I think Councilman Goow is misrepresenting my record, I will consider making an endorsement."
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Quote of the Day
July 3, 2008
"There was never any malice involved. I think it's clear that this was technical in nature. Now it’s just getting it resolved." -- Bergen County Democratic Organization spokesman Bill Maer, on a complaint filed against the BCDO by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.
-The Record, 07/03/08
Recent Press Releases
- Jul 3 2008
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
Bob Torricelli is Mad at the Big, 'Mean' Bergen Record― THE MEDIA MOB
Sweeney-Buono alliance shakes up N.J. Senate― JONATHAN TAMARI
Stile: Pay to play helped to quell party insurgents ― CHARLES STILE
Newark’s Mayor Cory Booker at Midpoint ― DICK BENFIELD
MUCHAS MARGARITAS― ANDY UNANUE
NJ Economic Growth chief leaves office― Gary Rose
Candidates spend plenty of their money― Philadelphia Inquirer
News anchor sizing up run for governor― Star-Ledger
Political parties get right down to business― Daily Record
Ex-city official should give all of it back― Star-Ledger
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Distessed City mayor...
Oooooo... maybe he will be as successful at interfering in a council race as he is in mismanaging his city to the point where it is the 2nd most distressed city in the State behind Camden. What a joke... morons fighting over who gets to be the king of the most mismanaged city ever.
rushed?
I am John Larko, I would like to comment on Councilman Goow's saying the firefighters contract was rushed and dropped on the council's lap. It was reported in the "Herald News" that the council received the contracts in October 2007 but as of yet have failed to give a simple "yes or no' vote on it. From listening to some of the council members I cannot figure out when they say they received the contracts. I have heard before winter break and I have heard in January 2008. The after they received the contracts they whine that they are too large to read and want a condensed version. I heard the city's business administrator state he gave them all a condensed version, then I immediately heard from council members "where is it, I have never seen it. As of 03/25/08 I know that they have received the condensed versions, I have it on video on my youtube page. But I would not be surprised if they say something is missing. Now bear in mind all that is required by the council is a simple "yes or no" vote its is not their job to negotiated the contracts, that is the responsibility of the mayor, and at this point the contract cannot be changed. I understand that the council has some problems with the contracts, in a city where the council and mayor get along I am sure that before issue like this ever gets this far they talk things out and work together, but this is Paterson. Now that the council has received the condensed version and of if they ever vote on these contracts will they then blame the business administrator if something is left out of the condensed versions? When I am elected to council I will read the full contracts and not pass the buck. You can see videos relating to this issue and links to newspaper articles on my website http://www.johnlarko.com-a.googlepages.com/Firefighters.html