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Paterson Dems ready to vote for new party leaders for first time in more than a decade
PATERSON — For the first time in more than a decade, the leadership of the Paterson Democratic Committee will be changing hands in a contest that emerged less than a week before the voting.
In an internal party election on June 23, two slates of women prominent in Paterson political circles will be vying for the chairperson and co-chairperson positions.
On one side are Oshin Castillo Cruz, a former Paterson Board of Education member, and Della McCall, who currently serves on the school board. Competing against them are two city council members, Maritza Davila and Lilisa Mimms, both of whom are up for reelection next four of them work in government jobs — Castillo Cruz at the Passaic County Board of Social Services, McCall in municipal government, Davila at Passaic County Community College, and Mimms in the Paterson School District.
Both slates are using much of the same language — including references to unity and community — to explain why city Democrats should pick them.
'I feel this is an opportunity to unify the party with a different flair than what we've been used to, with a different way of running things,' said McCall.
Davila said, 'We want to unite the party so it can come together to show the greatness of our city.'
Mayor Andre Sayegh did not respond when asked which ticket he would be supporting. Senator Benjie Wimberly said he has not yet made up his mind.
Political insiders said the winners will be asked to play key roles as the Passaic County Democratic organization tries to rebound from recent setbacks. Twice in the past six months, party leaders backed candidates for the state Legislature who fell short, including the recent Assembly primary in which self-described 'nontraditional candidate' Kenyatta Stewart won by more than 1,000 votes.
Al Abdelaziz and John Givens, who have served as co-chairmen of the city Democratic committee for more than 10 years, decided not to continue in those roles, political insiders said.
Neither Abdelaziz nor Givens responded to messages seeking their comments for this story. Several Democratic committee members said they only learned during the past several weeks that Abdelaziz and Givens would not try to retain the leadership posts.
Abdelaziz in June survived a strong primary challenge to emerge as one of the Democratic candidates for state Assembly in the 35th legislative district. In January, Abdelaziz had been picked to fill an unexpired term in the Assembly.
The only people allowed to vote in the June 23 contest for local party leadership will be members of the city Democratic committee, which is composed of two representatives for each of the 68 election districts in Paterson. At present about 20 of those spots are vacant.
Davila said she didn't know Castillo Cruz and McCall were seeking the chairperson posts when she and Mimms decided to run for the spots. Castillo Cruz said she and McCall already had sent out letters asking Democratic committee members for support when she found out Davila and Mimms were also running.
Political operatives said the behind-the-scenes alliances forged in the Democratic leadership contest likely will impact the Paterson City Council's vote on July 1 for president of the government body.
Traditionally, the council presidency — which comes with the power to set meeting agendas — becomes more heavily coveted in the year before a mayoral election, which this is.
'Paterson deserves great leadership that will unify, strengthen, empower, and progressively move our city, state, county, and nation forward,' said Mimms.
'Our Democratic Party needs to grow,' said Castillo Cruz. 'It needs to move forward and educate our community and involve the younger generation.'
This article originally appeared on Paterson Dems ready to vote for new party leaders
