PERTH AMBOY – With the Special Election coming up the following day, Residents Ken Balut, David Caba and Alan Silber put the Council on the spot.

Ken Balut was concerned about Woodbridge Attorney James Nolan who has been awarded City contracts. “Would this be considered Pay-to-Play? Did he get penalized? He was indicted for voter fraud,” Balut said.

Caba was concerned about out-of-towners who contributed to candidates running for office in the City election. He compared this to a mafia money trail. He said, “There were a lot of out of town people working in the Diaz Campaign Headquarters. Were you (the Council) looking out for the interest of people in town or outsiders? Sergio Diaz was fired from an $80,000 a year City job.”

When Resident Alan Silber came up, he was beside himself. He talked about the Etan Patz trial in New York. (Etan Patz was a young boy from New York who was kidnapped in 1979 and disappeared. He is feared to be murdered. His body was never found. Pedro Hernandez was arrested after he confessed to the murder. He went on trial for the murder but was acquitted because one juror was not convinced Hernandez was not guilty because of lack of evidence.)

Silber looked straight at Council President Lisa Nanton, “Miss Nanton, you stated that Fernando Gonzalez had something to do with the election fraud, even after Superior Judge Currier found that neither candidates were involved in it. You (Nanton) knew what Geneske (Former Chair of Democratic Party) was doing. You, yourself were a Commiteewoman for 22 years. You only believe certain things that Judge Currier said. Even though she said that the candidates were not involved in fraud.”

Alan Silber asked Nanton if she had anything to say.

Nanton turned to the City Attorney Mark Blunda and said, “I will ask him to respond.”

Blunda had no response.

During the Council Comments, the Council Members answered some of their critics:

“To those who accuse me of not wanting the residents to say anything during the meetings – this is not true. I’m not saying that you can’t say anything you want. But what you say sometimes is not beneficial to the City,” stated Councilman Fernando Irizarry.

Councilman Joel Pabon said, “I didn’t know a lot of the contributors and they shouldn’t call me if they’re looking for something from me. I am me, no matter how much money is given to me.”

Councilman Bill Petrick said, “We are all approachable for all City Residents.”

Council President Lisa Nanton said, “There was a lot of speculation here tonight. I am grateful for the Senators, Congressmen, Assemblymen that recognize how valuable this City is. Our Waterfront is valuable and so is our location to major highways. There was  no way to verify those votes.”

Petrick spoke again and said, “People complain about politicians when they show concern for our City, yet they will complain if these same politicians ignored our City. They should be happy that they are coming here.”

Nanton concluded by saying, “You should ask the people who supported the opposition while they are now supporting us.”