May 28, 2008 - 8:43am

Hawkins mourns Hackett fiasco, looks ahead to July 1

Orange Mayor-elect Eldridge Hawkins, Jr., issued a statement in Mayor-elect Eldridge Hawkins, Jr.Mayor-elect Eldridge Hawkins, Jr.response to former Mayor Mims Hackett's pleas of guilty to a charge each in federal and state court.

"It is a sad day for Orange and my prayers go out to Former Mayor Hackett's  family," said Hawkins. "I am confident that on July 1st, Orange will get the fresh start the voters asked for when they elected me as mayor. It is time for us to look to the future for positive change as we usher Orange to its great potential."

A West Orange police officer, Hawkins defeated Councilman Donald Page and four others in May 13 elections.