Ahead of a special election for the soon-to-be-vacated 6th Ward council seat in Paterson, Arab community leader and Democratic Municipal Co-Chair Al Abdelaziz filed over 750 petition signatures with the clerk’s office today, flanked by ally and Mayor-elect Andre Sayegh.

Abdelaziz said ‘I’m humbled by the outpouring of support that the residents of the 6th Ward have shown me in just the few days since we’ve started collecting petition signatures.  It shows they want to continue the progress our ward has made in the last ten years and they want strong representation on the Council, as Andre Sayegh prepares to lead our city as Mayor.  We will continue the progress and keep the 6th Ward strong.  I’ll continue to knock on doors, connect with neighbors, collect signatures, and meet new people as we move forward together.’

Abdelaziz ran for the seat two years ago against Sayegh, giving the veteran councilman a spirited challenge.  Politically allied again during the mayoral election earlier this year, Sayegh is all-in with Abdelaziz to succeed him in the 6th Ward.