PATERSON - It was an Old West duel, Silk City style.

On the [bubbleAutoLink text="final Sunday before Election Day" id="26377"], a convertible-riding Alex Mendez led a caravan of cars through the streets of Silk City, the mayoral candidate himself upright and visible on full-throated power-projection duty amid merengue strains.

School Board Member Flavio Rivera - a candidate for councilman at-large as part of the Mendez Team - stood beside him.

"Mi familia," shouted the velvet-voiced Mendez. "Mi familia."

People waved and called back to him.

But another figure was also out there in the streets.

In a six-candidate field, mayoral candidate Mendez faces a considerable challenge from Ward 6 Councilman Andre Sayegh, who's coalesced the Democratic Party establishment, pastors, teachers, engineers, laborers, carpenters and symbolic segments of the city.

While Mendez circulated on Sunday, an equally hard-rocking Sayegh partied with electrified Bengalis (below).

Tuesday was Election Day.

Everyone was moving.