Community activist Daryl Brooks speaks in support of Trenton Mayor Tony Mack at press conference on the front steps of City Hall on Tuesday June 7, 2011, a day after five city residents filed a notice of intent to begin the process of recalling the mayor. TRENTON — A group of Mayor Tony Mack's supporters went on the offensive yesterday against the mayoral recall effort launched this week, defending Mack's record and accusing former Mayor Douglas Palmer of "back-seat driving" the recall bid.
Activist Daryl Brooks led a City Hall rally that drew about 20 Mack employees and other residents, naming a handful of Mack accomplishments while alleging those behind the recall do not want the city to succeed.
“The mayor has made a stable economy, the mayor is rebuilding parks, the mayor is fixing the education system,” Brooks said. “The mayor is the people’s champion.”
In a press release, Brooks suggested Palmer wants to undermine Mack because the current mayor had called for an audit of the city’s books from Palmer’s administration.
Palmer, who now runs a consulting business, denied any involvement in the recall effort and said he had even extended Mack an offer of advice and assistance.
“I’m not involved, absolutely not. I’m taking care of my family,” Palmer said. “If he needs my help, I’m always there to help him.”
The recall petition was filed Monday by city residents who declared Mack’s leadership a failure since he took office. There have been numerous scandals, including the arrests of city employees close to Mack, and other administrative embarrassments. Critics have alleged the city is on a downward spiral, exacerbated by Mack’s leadership.
For his part, Mack has dismissed the recall effort, saying he is focused on improving the city. In addition, city officials have said the recall effort could only make it more difficult for them to do their jobs.
Once the notice of intent filed Monday morning is certified, the recall petitioners will need to collect more than 9,000 signatures from registered voters before a recall question could be placed on the ballot.
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Brooks said yesterday’s gathering was organized independently from Mack’s office.
He could not offer any proof that Palmer was orchestrating the recall, but said in his press release that recall committee member David Ponton had worked for the city under Palmer and that another member had been close to the former mayor.
Brooks and the mayor’s support group, Friends of Tony Mack, tried to paint the members of the recall committee as disgruntled job seekers who were forced out during the change in administrations last summer.
“There’s been some problems,” Brooks said. “There are some individuals who aren’t happy with our mayor. Individuals are upset that they lost jobs. That’s the process of election.”
Brooks, who has run unsuccessfully for several political offices, has recently described himself as a Libertarian and a tea party activist. He served time in prison after being convicted of exposing himself to two young girls in 1998.
Many of the rally attendees were Mack administration employees, including mayoral aide Tony Roberts, Water Department laborer Rodney Washington, Mack’s secretary Carmen Melendez, and head park ranger Robert Mendez. The mayor’s brother, Raphiel Mack, also attended.
"I do think he's been doing an exceptional job with what he's been handed," Raphiel Mack said.
In the release, Brooks attacked Ponton, a drug prevention coordinator for the city under Palmer, alleging he was "bitter" because his contract was not renewed under Mack.
Ponton denied that, saying he served in the position for five years but sought other work when the Palmer administration made the job part time. He now has a different job, and just last month received a notice from the city that he could reapply for his old position, he said.
“They need to get their issues straight and talk about all the issues and let the rhetoric go,” Ponton said. “Tony’s been skirting around the issues since he’s been mayor of the city and it’s just not going to work anymore.”
“His policy is, ‘Take care of my buddies,’” Ponton said. “I don’t like it and the residents of the city don’t like it.”
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