Note: Research by Responsible
Citizens For
There have been several other sexual harasment charges
and civil suits against Hackett since then, including Teal Barth - $150,000
, a lieutenant at Orange Police
Department Judith Rothenberger (Judith Rothenberger vs. Mayor Mims Hackett et als. L-1464-06 ), a police officer's wife, and now, Laverne
Ballard.
The Star-Ledger Archive
COPYRIGHT © The Star-Ledger 2001
Date: 2001/06/10
Sunday Page: 043 Section:
Group of citizens aiming to recall mayor of Orange
By KEVIN
C. DILWORTH
STAR-LEDGER STAFF
Reacting to a litany of complaints about the city of Orange, a group of residents has begun efforts to start a recall petition against Mayor Mims Hackett Jr.
Hackett characterized the move as "slandering my name," and as an attempt "to generate negative publicity" in his upcoming 27th legislative district Assembly primary race.
The recall is being led by Davis Hannah, an unsuccessful city council candidate last year; former Councilman Benjamin Jones and James Ochs. They have formed the Committee to Recall Mims Hackett Jr. and are awaiting authorization from the city clerk's office to begin collecting signatures.
Orange "has suffered financial burdens, public humiliation and city-wide disenchantment" because of Hackett, according to a statement issued by Michael Vieira on the committee's behalf. To get on a ballot, the petition requires more than 3,000 signatures from Orange voters.
Hackett led the last successful recall in 1992, when as a councilman-at-large his efforts led to the ouster of then-North Ward Councilwoman Louise Corvino.
"Mr. Hackett has personally cost the city millions of dollars in lawsuits for illegal firings, sexual harassment charges, and plaintiff and defense expenses," said Vieira, who failed in her 1994 bid to win a council seat.
Hackett has led the city since July 1, 1996, winning a second four-year term last July. The mayor has not returned phone calls for comment about the recall effort or to discuss other municipal matters.
However, state Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex), his friend, ally and political running mate in an upcoming Democratic Party primary, released a statement he obtained from Hackett.
"This is nothing more than an attack from three people, who happen to be political adversaries looking to generate negative publicity about my candidacy for state Assembly," Hackett's statement said. "These people in no way speak for the citizens of Orange, and do our city harm by slandering my name.
"The citizens have elected me twice as their mayor, and I will continue to go about the business of serving the city to the best of my ability. I will continue to rejuvenate and restore pride in our city, to encourage homeownership, to attract new businesses, to improve roads and neighborhoods and be an advocate for our children by improving our schools."
Codey, like Hackett, said the recall effort reeks of dirty politics, but North Ward Councilman Donald Page, an ally-turned-opponent of Hackett, believes Hackett needs to go.
"This is all about trying to defeat him in the June 26 primary," complained Codey, who's running for re-election in the newly formed 27th senatorial district, where Hackett is running for one of the two new state Assembly seats created by redistricting. "This is the oldest trick that there is in politics. This is phony baloney."
Jones supported Betty Brown, a resident who unsuccessfully tried to unseat Hackett in the city's 2000 nonpartisan election, and he's just trying to get back at the mayor, Codey said. In 1970, Jones became the first African-American to win a seat on Orange's then-commission form of government. He later served as a city councilman, serving through the early 1980s.
Hannah and Jones strongly rejected Hackett and Codey's suggestions, saying the recall idea was born months ago, before the redistricting and before anyone knew Hackett would be a state Assembly candidate.
While they blame the mayor for the city's crime rate, property taxes, lawsuits, the quality of its drinking water, the education offered by the city's public schools and its municipal services, even Page concedes the mayor can't be faulted for every one of those things.
"I'm not part of the recall effort, but I do agree with it, on the grounds of the sexual harassment lawsuit (filed by former city worker Marilyn Smith), and the firing of former city fire chief/director John Gamba," Page said. Page said those instances cost the city approximately $1.5 million.
Page said he also faults the mayor for letting private citizens influence his decision not to promote two white police sergeants, and for allowing Hackett family members to accept a school principal's post in the city, the Hospital Center at Orange's top security job and a municipal law department post in neighboring East Orange.
When Hackett and three other people initiated their recall efforts against Corvino, North Ward voters voted her out 492-334 during a special election March 9, 1992. They wanted Corvino out of office because of complaints by voters she didn't adequately represent their concerns and didn't support some of Police Director Charles Cobbertt's law enforcement efforts.
Corvino at that time termed the Hackett-led recall effort "political harassment, with the aim being to discredit my good name. I have an impeccable and unblemished political record."
Page, then a member of the school board, won in a special election to fill the two years of Corvino's unexpired term. Corvino died two years later of cancer.