Former Wyckoff Mayor Abstains From Anti-Confederate Vote

WYCKOFF, NJ — A former mayor of Wyckoff chose not to cast a vote as most of his colleagues in the Assembly Appropriations Committee passed a resolution which urges Congress to remove confederate statues from the Capitol.

Kevin Rooney of New Jersey's 40th Legislative District was one of three Republican assemblymen to abstain from the vote, which passed 5-1. Another, Brian Bergen, was the lone vote against.

Emails to Rooney's office were not returned, and he did not comment during the vote.

The resolution comes after the U.S. House passed a bill to remove statues on Capitol grounds last week, and the resolution serves as a symbolic nod in solidarity.

In his comments explaining his vote against the resolution, Bergen said he didn't want to take a paint by numbers approach to removing Confederate statues, or casting Confederates in a negative light, according to Politico.

"Just to blanket anybody involved in the confederacy at all as a person not worthy of a state putting up in the Capitol, it’s a little bit broad for me," said Bergen.

Others in the Assembly disagreed, and language in the resolution explained their dissension.

"Those who committed treason against the United States, and lead the nation into its most painful and bloody war to preserve the institution of slavery, are not patriots and should not be afforded the honor of having their images on display in the United States Capitol," the resolution read.

In addition to Rooney, Assemblymen Antwan McClellan and Jay Webber also abstained.

Rooney served as the mayor of Wyckoff in 2011, 2015 and 2016, and deputy mayor in 2010 and 2014.

In addition to his political resume, he's also a "Chopped" champion.

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