Lisa Perkins

Several new mayors will take office today after winning the May 13 non-partisan municipal elections, including Wilda Diaz in Perth Amboy, Eldridge Hawkins, Jr. in Orange, Jerry Fried in Montclair, Robert Romano in Vineland, and Edward Mahaney in Cape May City.

ORANGE - The City Council last night voted 5-2 to retain Council President Lisa Perkins as the city’s acting mayor.

Councilmen Ed Marable, Jr. and Hassan Abdul-Rasheed voted to replace Perkins with Mayor-elect Eldridge Hawkins, Jr., due to her close relations with former Mayor Mims Hackett, who left office on the day he pleaded guilty to attempted extortion.

Following Mims Hackett's plea of guilty to attempted extortion,Acting Mayor Lisa Perkins Council President Lisa Perkins took the reins of government in Orange today, and is now serving as the city's acting mayor.

Orange has a code provision in the event of the mayor's illness, which gives the business administrator authority to take over in the chief elected official's absence.

But in this case, state law regarding succession trumps Orange's code and grants authority to the council president to step in for a mayor who has pleaded guilty to a corruption charge.

Councilman Edward Marable, Jr. today said he would consider challenging Perkins's right to serve as mayor.

There is considerable speculation that Orange Mayor Mims Hackett will plead guilty to federal and state corruption charges on Tuesday.  U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie has scheduled a news conference for tomorrow, and Hackett is expected to appear before Federal Judge Jose Linares at 8:00 AM, and then before Superior Court Judge Betty Lester at 1:30 PM.  Under that scenario, City Council President Lisa Perkins will become Acting Mayor until July 1, when Mayor-elect Eldridge Hawkins, Jr. takes office.