Tom Rooney

Ward Six Council candidate Andre Sayegh addresses the governing body on Tuesday evening.

PATERSON - Among those lining up in the Sixth Ward to succeed Councilman Thomas C. Rooney, Jr., 33-year old Andre Sayegh has the coveted endorsement of the departing ward icon.

President of the Paterson School Board and a native Patersonian who has lived in the ward his whole life, Sayegh is one in a field of prospective candidates that includes Javier Fernandez, Eddie Gonzalez, Cunnur Kalaksiz, Jose Moore and Illia Villanueva (who’s run for council and lost four times), according to the Paterson City Clerk’s office. Eliacar Montoya has also filed, sources say.

Paterson City Councilman Thomas Rooney

PATERSON - The City Council will regretfully say goodbye this year to their resident Irish numbers cruncher, who also happens to be their resident historian and prophet when it comes to all things Paterson.

Councilman Thomas C. Rooney, Jr., 80, a native Patersonian and former mayor from the early 1970s, who originally figured he’d serve a term on the council or maybe two at the most, has represented the Sixth Ward for 28 years - since July 1, 1980.