Judge Picks Mount Vernon's Interim Mayor

MOUNT VERNON, NY — State Supreme Court Justice Lawrence Ecker ruled that the Mount Vernon City Council's first pick for interim mayor to replace Mayor Richard Thomas would get to keep the job till a new mayor is elected in November and sworn in in January, The Journal News reported.

The judge said that Wallace, as city council president, was the appropriate person under the city charter to step in, and that the residents of Mount Vernon should not have to endure the political infighting, wrote TJN reporter Jon Bandler.

City Council President Andre Wallace was appointed to replace Thomas, whom the council booted after he pleaded guilty to campaign fraud.

The City Council then tried to rescind the appointment a few weeks later, after Wallace began making personnel changes and consolidating control of some of the city's finances into the mayor's office without consulting them.

Their second appointment was Lisa Copeland, who had become acting city council president when Wallace ascended.

The City Council found themselves aligned against Wallace and his ally City Comptroller Deborah Reynolds, who is infamous in City Hall for her fighting with Thomas.

Wallace wishes to be elected mayor permanently. He was soundly defeated in the Democratic primary but has the Republican ballot line in the November general election, where he will face off against Shawyn Patterson-Howard.

SEE ALSO: Mount Vernon Continues Dueling Mayors, Fight Over PD