Tony Mack recall, Trenton, New Jersey (2011)

An effort to recall Tony Mack from his position as mayor of Trenton, New Jersey was launched in summer 2011. On August 4, those seeking to oust Mack from office opened their headquarters. The recall effort materialized after the mayor removed department directors and employees associated with the mayor before him. According to Mack's former campaign chairman: “Tony Mack is not the man to run this city. During the campaign he gave me a lot of promises, but when he took office it went in one ear and out the other because there’s nothing in between...I’m not saying that to be disparaging, but he doesn’t know what’s going on.”

According to Mack at the time of the recall effort materialization: "The voters spoke, I heard them loud and clear. I’m grateful that they chose me to serve.”

The recall effort failed, as it failed to collect enough signatures by the petition drive deadline.

Complaint filed

Community activist Kevin Moriarty filed a formal complaint on July 5, 2011 with the Trenton Police Department against three men he alleged were trying to intimidate recall signature collectors.

One of the three named in his complaint was Trenton Central High School Head Football Coach Raphiel Mack, brother of the mayor. According to Moriarty, when he tried to record the alleged intimidation session, one of the men reportedly grew loud and made inappropriate gestures towards him.

Path to the ballot

Supporters of the recall effort had until November 15, 2011 to collect approximately 10,000 signatures to schedule a recall election. According to reports, supporters planned to collect about 12,000 signatures. The recall effort failed to collect enough signatures, gathering only about 9,860 signatures.

Harassment by recall opponents

In December 2012, two of Mack's supporters, Terrance Bailey and Rodney Washington, pleaded guilty to disorderly persons offenses stemming from a 2011 incident in which they harassed volunteers gathering signatures to recall Mack. Similar charges were dropped against Mack's brother, Ralphiel Mack. The incident took place in July 2011. Bailey and Washington used cursing and racially charged language in an attempt to intimidate recall supporters.

See also

• Recall campaigns in New Jersey
• Political recall efforts, 2011