PERTH AMBOY – I have been a member of the city council for six years, and when I was elected, I considered myself a part of our current mayor’s team. I felt that my job was to work with the mayor and other city council members to achieve our shared vision of a better Perth Amboy. I expected that the other council members and I would be an integral part of the planning and decision-making that would make that happen, but I have been disappointed.

The city council is the governing body of the City of Perth Amboy. Yet the mayor did not think it important to regularly attend council meetings. She rarely consulted or collaborated with the city council when making decisions for the city. Instead, she sought the advice of outsiders, often people with their own agendas, to make decisions that were often not in the best interest of our city and its residents.

We need a mayor who will work constructively with the city council. Yet when the mayor does attend council meetings these days, it is usually for confrontation. She spends valuable time during council meetings publicly shouting at and threatening council members who do not agree with her in a manner that demeans her office and the whole government of the city. Because of the mayor’s lack of leadership and erratic decision-making, too much of the council’s time has been consumed by putting out fires and responding to crises—many of the mayor’s own making.

I have seen her repeatedly inject politics and outside agendas into areas of government where they do not belong. She has jeopardized the security of our city to give jobs to her friends and political allies. City employees even report feeling pressured into attending her campaign functions, fearing retribution if they refuse.

This mayor whom I once supported, has become arrogant and isolated. She has neglected her leadership responsibilities and has forgotten that she is part of a team. As a result, I have lost trust in her leadership. At this time, four of the five members of the city council agree. We no longer trust her to lead this city.

To be successful, a mayor must have a vision for the city and a plan for making that vision a reality. A successful mayor must have the ability to create and lead a team that is committed to carrying out that plan. A successful mayor must think of the city council as a partner in improving the city, not an adversary to be bullied and marginalized. Most importantly, a successful mayor must hold himself or herself accountable to the team and to the residents of the city they serve together.

Eight years is enough. We need real leadership for a change in Perth Amboy.