September 10, 2007

2007 Committee to Recall Mayor Mims Hackett, Jr.

The recall petition drive of Orange Mayor, Mims Hackett Jr. comes to a conclusion today, having been overtaken by current events.  The arrest of Mayor Hackett in an FBI sting operation last week validates our recall campaign and publicizes the abuses suffered by the taxpayers of Orange more dramatically than our own citizens’ initiative could ever hope to do.

It is our hope, and belief, that Mims Hackett, Jr. will soon resign his position as Mayor of Orange. The criminal justice system of the United States dictates the presumption of innocence. The actual criminal complaint against Mims Hackett, Jr., however, leaves little doubt that the Mayor has betrayed the public’s trust. We agree with Governor Corzine. that Mims Hackett cannot remain in office.

The Responsible Citizens of Orange organization, after much deliberation, has decided not to file our completed petitions for a November recall election but will defer to the statutory processes already in place. We believe that the removal of Mayor Hackett from office is only the first step in purging corruption from Orange and restoring ethical, efficient city government. We believe that our time and resources can be better used in this effort than spent in duplicating the election process for a five month replacement mayor.  

We wish to thank the thousands of Orange citizens who signed our petitions and our dedicated recall workers for their civic responsibility and courage in what was once believed by some to be an impossible task.  As our web site motto says (taxes2high.org), “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”