Embattled Orange mayor takes on critics

Hackett rips recall move as 'pathetic attempt' by foes

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

BY KEVIN C. DILWORTH

Star-Ledger Staff

Criticized for mismanagement and cronyism in Orange, Mayor Mims Hackett Jr. yesterday defended his 10-year record, denied a host of allegations lodged against him and described those behind a recall effort as misguided individuals with political ambitions.

"I fully recognize this recall action for what it is," Hackett told a packed audience in the third-floor city council chambers of Orange City Hall, "... a pathetic attempt by certain opponents and wannabe rivals to wage political warfare by hiding behind a small group of disgruntled citizens."

Hackett's comments were directed at members of the newly formed 2007 Committee to Recall Mayor Mims Hackett Jr., an outgrowth of the approximately 70-member Responsible Citizens for Orange community action group.

The committee is seeking to gather a minimum of 3,597 signatures of registered voters required to have a recall question placed on a future election ballot. The city clerk has asked the group to amend the recall petition notice to comply with certain state law requirements.

Members of the group have cited soaring property taxes -- the result of Orange's first citywide property revaluation in 42 years -- as the catalyst for the growing dissatisfaction with Hackett.

The group has created a Web site -- www.taxes2high.org -- and has scrutinized the mayor and lodged a series of criticisms at how he runs city government.

"The allegations and accusations they have made in their petition are so false that it's ludicrous," Hackett said. "Not only does the ridiculous content of these allegations undermine the legitimacy of the citizen group, but it also ex poses the truly personal nature and malicious intent of the attempted recall action."

The group blames Hackett for some of the huge tax increases, for being fiscally irresponsible and allowing expenses to skyrocket, for seeking volunteers to help run the already undermanned fire department, for having a chauffeur/ personal aide, and for lacking vision and leadership.

"These allegations contain no details and no real substance, beyond a series of unfounded statements," Hackett complained, as supporters and opponents, as well as recall committee members, such as airline pilot Bruce Meyer, Seton Hall University track coach Jason L. Jackson and city resident Jeffrey Conway, listened.

The mayor, who also serves as a state assemblyman, refuted each and every accusation lodged against him, labeled them lies in the form of a smear campaign, and described his Orange mayoral tenure as representing noteworthy progress and good government.

Hackett said several housing redevelopment plans and other factors are proof that his administration is doing an excellent job "responding to the economic challenges that face today's urban municipalities."

But his critics disagreed and took issue with the mayor's characterization that they are politically motivated rivals.

"We have no political affiliations now, or in the past, with anyone connected in any way to Orange municipal government," Meyer, a Berkeley Avenue resident, said after the session. "None of us has any political aspirations, other than promoting efficient, ethical government."

Richard Constable, a Newark attorney who is another recall committee member, was not at the news conference, but he later criticized the mayor's efforts to stabilize taxes.

"The majority of housing that the Hackett administration proposes to bring to Orange includes major tax abatements that will not bring additional monies to the city," Constable said. "And there is no industry to offset the property tax burden that has fallen squarely on the shoulders of current residents."

Over the past half century, there has been only one successful political recall in Orange. And it was led by Hackett, nearly 15 years ago, when some of the very same politically motivated accusations he links to this current recall effort were lodged against him and others by the subject of the recall, the late North Ward Councilwoman Louise Corvino.

Hackett, then Orange's North Ward councilman, former Mayor Robert Brown, former civilian police director Charles Cobbertt, and Corvino's replacement, Donald Page, a one-time Hackett political ally-turned political foe, led that successful recall effort. Corvino was ousted from elected office on March 9, 1992, and Page was simultaneously elected to replace her.

Kevin C. Dilworth may be reached at kdilworth@starled ger.com or (973) 392-4143.