Trenton Mayor Tony Mack recall effort falls short of required signatures

Monday, November 14, 2011

By Erin Duffy/The Times

TRENTON -- A group of residents attempting to recall Trenton Mayor Tony Mack announced today that they will fall short of the signatures required by tomorrow's deadline.

The Committee to Recall Mayor Tony Mack gathered roughly 8,500 signatures on its recall petition, below the 9,860 voter signatures needed to force a recall and new mayoral election.

Petition organizers said they weren't disappointed and that the number of signatures collected should send a message to Mack, whose 16-month tenure as mayor has been dogged by criticism and scandal.

"Today, 8,500 Trentonians are sending a strong message throughout City Hall and beyond," said David Ponton, the chairman of the recall committee. "We demand better, we deserve better, and will hold our elected officials accountable."

The committee first filed its intention to recall in June and had 160 days to collect the 9,860 signatures representing 25 percent of the city's more than 39,000 registered voters.

Recallers want Tony Mack to 'tap out'

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

By L.A. PARKER

TRENTON — Mayor Tony Mack beat back attacks by some of his most ardent critics last night during a townhall meeting at Millhouse Rehabilitation Center.

Mack lashed out at recall leader Dave Ponton, businessman Tracey Syphax and former City Councilwoman Cordelia Staton. Jo Carolyn Dent- Clark and several other residents who have pushed to have him removed from office.

“You used to be a wrestler, Tony. Why don’t you just tap out?” Syphax said, an allusion to grapplers who yield in tough matches.

Mack challengers included Andrew Bobbitt and Darren “Freedom” Green.

Mayor Mack delivered his standard response, saying that most of his detractors were refused either jobs or lucrative contracts with the City of Trenton.

“I can’t give everybody a job in the city. Most of the people criticizing me in this room at some time wanted something from me,” Mack accused. Staton asked Mack to outline his goals for the city.

“I couldn’t believe that (Mack) said he’s doing a great job,” Staton said. Recallers have until Nov. 15 to collect 9,700 signatures, an accomplishment that would force a special election which more than likely would include another Mack mayoral campaign.

Estimates of claimed signatures vary, although a wide belief is that recall efforts will fall short.

Ponton disagreed, saying that he expects his group to gain enough signatures for a recall.

“We’re going to make it. We’re going to make it,” Ponton assured. “We have a major recall effort throughout the city on Saturday (Oct. 22). We expect to be everywhere in order to force this mayor to run again and hopefully replace him.”

Trenton Mayor Tony Mack is target of a recall effort by city residents

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

By Matt Fair/The Times

TRENTON — Five city residents filed a notice of intent to begin the arduous process of recalling Mayor Tony Mack yesterday, saying they represented a much larger number of people tired of Mack’s failed leadership.

“This is a very exciting moment for Trenton,” the group’s leader, community activist David Ponton, said after filing the notice with the city clerk. “The potential to demonstrate that the citizens of our city can come together to take control of a failed administration is powerful.

”The committee’s other members are Aida Albino-Wimbush, Marion Ray, Craig Shofed and Christine Ott.

Since he took office last July, Mack’s administration has been at the center of a number of scandals, including the arrest of his former chief of staff and of his half-brother, a Trenton Water Works employee. Mack has had eight business administrators during that time, including one who quit and subsequently pleaded guilty to stealing from a congressional campaign.

“The rumbling is already in the air,” Albino-Wimbush said. “The people are tired and they need a different perspective. We’re tired of reading something new in the paper every day.

”Mack dismissed the effort yesterday, saying he was focusing on improving the city.

Asked whether he thought the recall effort signaled a loss of confidence in his leadership, Mack said, “I don’t think (so). That’s not my business. I’m so excited about where we are in this city that I haven’t even given it a thought.”