WHY RECALL THE MAYOR?
The township of Mahwah is currently embroiled in several lawsuits and facing a tremendous amount of negative press. At the center of it all are the actions of Mayor William Laforet. Laforet is guilty of:
- Incompetent management, poor judgment, and abuse of power resulting in multiple lawsuits which could easily cost taxpayers in excess of $60,000,000.
- Blatantly lying to the public about his knowledge of planned expansion of non-resident partisan political groups into Mahwah.
- Breaching his ethical and fiduciary responsibilities by ignoring the town’s attorneys and making statements to the media designed to undermine the town’s legal positions and defame its reputation.
- Encouraging divisiveness within Mahwah by endorsing lies and hate-mongering perpetuated by non-residents.
Laforet has completely failed as a leader in bringing our community together. He is the common denominator in all of Mahwah's problems. It is time for Mahwah and its residents to stop paying for the mistakes of its incompetent, untrustworthy, unethical, and selfish mayor. William Laforet must be removed from office now.
RECALL TIMELINE
In keeping with NJ Statutes, the Recall Committee has followed a legislated timeline:
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January 8, 2018 — The Recall Committee filed the “Notice of Intention to Circulate Recall Petition” with the Municipal Clerk.
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January 9, 2018 — The local election official, the Mahwah Municipal Clerk, certified the Notice of Intention to Circulate Petitions which was sponsored and signed by four residents. The law requires at least three sponsors.
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January 11, 2018 — The Mahwah Municipal Clerk served the notice to Mayor Laforet.
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January 16, 2018 — The Mayor acknowledged receipt of the "Notice of Intent". Proof was provided to the recall Committee on January 18, 2018.
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January 18, 2018 — The Recall Committee submitted its proposed Recall Petition to the Municipal Clerk.
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January 18, 2018 — Required forms filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission via certified mail.
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January 19, 2018 — The Municipal Clerk approved the format of the Recall Petition.
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January 19, 2018 — Mahwah registered voters began circulating the Recall Petition.
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January 19, 2018 — A public notice was published in The Record by the Municipal Clerk.
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June 27, 2018 — Last day to sign the petition.
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June 27, 2018 — Over 5,000 signatures submitted to the Mahwah Town Clerk who serves as the Recall Election Official.
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July 11, 2018 — The clerk notified the Recall Committee and Mayor Laforet that verification of the Recall Petition was complete and there were sufficient valid signatures to proceed to the next step in the process.
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July 25, 2018 — Counsel for Mayor Laforet filed an objection to Approval of the Recall Election Official, Mahwah Township Clerk Kathrine Coviello.
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July 30, 2018 — Counsel for the Committee to Recall Mayor William Laforet filed a response to the Mayor’s objection.
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August 6, 2018 — The Recall Election Official, Mahwah Township Clerk Kathrine Coviello filed her reply to the Mayor’s objection, reaffirming her Certification of the Recall Petition.
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August 20, 2018 — Mayor Laforet opts not to resign or challenge the Recall Petition. The Recall Question will appear on this November's ballot.
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November 6, 2018 — Mahwah votes to recall Mayor Laforet. Laforet is the first elected official recalled in Bergen County in 25 years.