The Alternative Press

Now that the Second Ward council seat has been declared vacant by the Superior Court the Paterson City Council now has the statutory authority  to either fill the vacant seat or wait until the Special election.

As a Second Ward voter my opinion is that the seat should remain vacant.It is the " will of the people" to elect their representatives, not eight other politicians. I also believe the eight elected city council members can legislate effectively with eight if they are the capable people they all claim to be.

However, if the Paterson City Council chooses to fill the Second Ward Council seat on an interim basis
which I do not agree with, that individual should be someone who publicly commits to not run in the Special election, so as not to give the incumbent an unfair advantage.

Two Council members have publicly stated they wanted defeated candidate Aslon Goow to be appointed.
That would be completely wrong and extremely offensive to the voters of Paterson. Remember, of the 2,800 votes cast in the Second Ward last May, Goow only received about 600. The voters of Paterson by casting their ballots have spoken very loudly that they do not want this 12 year incumbent back to continue his bulling and boorish ways. The people have spoken. We do not want Goow, nor will we support the political shenanigans
of those council members who will attempt to sneak him back onto the council.

Let us keep Paterson a democracy and in the American way let us work together to expedite the Special election, keep the seat vacant, and let "WE THE PEOPLE" choose who will represent us.
      
Ricardo Garcia