Mount Vernon Continues Dueling Mayors, Fight Over PD

MOUNT VERNON, NY — Shortly after replacing Mayor Richard Thomas with Andre Wallace (who had been the City Council president), the Mount Vernon City Council says it has replaced Wallace with Council President Lisa Copeland.

Nope, says Wallace.

The sticking point appears to have been Wallace's unilateral action to re-instate and promote a police official and suspend another. Shawn Harris is in, Deputy Chief Roy Hastings out. And the council says Wallace should not have made either of those moves without them.

The council voted Friday to replace Wallace with Copeland, who had replaced Wallace as head of the City Council.

Wallace issued a statement: "Following the legal precedent established by the Thomas ruling, Copeland and the city council have no legal footing to stand on. I will not be distracted to ensure the safety and well-being of the people of Mount Vernon."

Copeland went to work in the mayor's office. The police department has received instructions from each, according to The Journal News.

Wallace has also threatened to suspend police Chief Richton Ziadie, saying the department refused to assign him a security detail.

Read the article on lohud.com.

Wallace wishes to be elected mayor. 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.

Thomas was ousted in early July after pleading guilty to misappropriating $12,900 from his mayoral campaign. According to Thomas's plea bargain with the New York Attorney General's Office and OK'd by the court, he was due to step down Sept. 30. The council refused to wait.

When Thomas moved out, after losing a court fight about it, Patterson-Howard issued a statement that's still pertinent:

"The people of Mount Vernon need and deserve a smooth and orderly leadership transition. They need a path forward that doesn't derail vital city services with chaos and political infighting."

Thomas's warning was also prescient:

The City Council's illegal coup d'etat confirms there is an organized effort to undermine democracy in Mount Vernon and hide the truth about the "undocumented" $95 million in loans by past administrations. These are the same people that won't vote for garbage trucks nor toilet paper for seniors, yet they illegally anoint themselves as Mayor. Get ready for another waste of time and money on unnecessary litigation.

SEE ALSO

• Mount Vernon City Council Votes To Oust Mayor
• Thomas, Advisors Depart Mount Vernon City Hall
• Mount Vernon Mayor Pleads Guilty, Will Step Down
• Results: Close In Mount Vernon Democratic Mayoral Primary