Heavy rain officially washed out a scheduled Paterson City Council endorsement of the Passaic County Democratic ticket on the steps of City Hall this evening. But the refusal of At-Large Councilman Rigo Rodriguez and Fifth Ward Councilman Julio Tavarez to get behind a team headed by U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson), which includes sheriff’s candidate Richard Berdnik, may have also dampened the event.
The two lone Latinos on the nine-person council – renegade Democrats Tavarez and Rodriguez – have not actively lent their voices in opposition to Republican sheriff’s canddiate Felix Garcia, prompting hardcore Paterson Democrats to wonder about their loyalty. Summoned to lay all questions to rest by formally endorsing Pascrell, Berdnik and the freeholders this evening, Tavarez and Rodriguez went AWOL.
In any event, Paterson Council President Aslon Goow figures seven out of nine council people for Berdink is not bad.
Last night, Goow welcomed Berdnik to Paterson’s School No. 27 for a q and a with voters. Garcia did not attend the event.
