David Zappariello and Joseph D’Alessandro III recall, Buena, New Jersey (2021-2022)
| Buena mayor and city council recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
Joseph D’Alessandro III |
| Recall status |
| Signature requirement |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2022 Recalls in New Jersey New Jersey recall laws Mayoral recalls City council recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Mayor David Zappariello and Councilman Joseph D’Alessandro III did not qualify for the ballot in Buena, New Jersey.[1]
Organizers initiated the recall campaign after the council voted in July 2021 to dissolve Fire District #1, run by the Landisville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company, after the company was found to have violated occupational health and safety requirements.[1]
Recall supporters
Organizers opposed Zappariello and D’Alessandro's vote to dissolve the Landisville fire company. They alleged that the two council members had not responded adequately to community members who had reached out to them about the vote.[1]
Resident and recall organizer Sue Romero said:[1]
| “ |
The closure got the ball rolling, and that’s not the only reason. ... The mayor and council were not responding to the community, there were people trying to reach out to them ... and it wasn’t all about the fire department; several community members were trying to contact them for other issues and they wouldn’t respond to them. You should respond to the community. We are the taxpayers.[2] |
” |
Recall opponents
Zappariello stood by his vote to dissolve the fire company, saying, "Fire District 1 had glaring deficiencies that may have resulted in serious injury or death."[1]
D’Alessandro gave the following response to the recall campaign:[1]
| “ |
Our constituents have the right to recall their elected officials, and I don’t know what the outcome of the recall effort will be. ... I understand the dissolution of the Borough of Buena Board of Fire Commissioners District 1 may have upset some of our residents. However, mayor and council have acted in the best interest of the residents, property owners and the volunteer firefighters of the Borough of Buena by voting unanimously to dissolve Borough of Buena Board of Fire Commissioners District 1, a governmental entity.[2] |
” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in New Jersey
Buena elections officials approved the recall petition for circulation in September 2021. To force a special recall election to be scheduled, organizers would have needed to collect at least 826 signatures within a 160-day period.[1]
See also
- Recall campaigns in New Jersey
- Political recall efforts, 2021
- Political recall efforts, 2022
- City council recalls
External links
Footnotes
