Armstead Invites Linden City Residents to Campaign Rally- Then Sticks Them with the Bill

First term mayor addicted to free rides, free cars, and city buildings for campaign use

(LINDEN) – The Democratic team of Gretchen Hickey for Mayor and Jorge Alvarez for Council President is demanding Linden Mayor Derek Armstead answer to taxpayers for his inappropriate use of municipal resources for campaign purposes.

“It has come to my attention that you and Councilwoman Michele Yamakaitis will be hosting two Town Hall Meetings on the evenings of May 10, 2018 and May 17, 2018 in the City Council Chambers,” wrote Ryan M. Vasquez, Campaign Manager for Hickey/Alvarez, to Mayor Armstead and copied to all Linden public officials.  “I raise my deep concerns that these events are not town hall meetings but are in fact nothing more than taxpayer-funded and resourced campaign stops.”

Vasquez’s full letter is attached to this release.

A flyer advertising the “town hall” (attached) specifies the meeting location as City Hall, while clearly declaring at the bottom “Paid for by the Committee to Elect Armstead Mayor”.  It even includes the Mayor’s campaign slogans and themes. “This is blatant abuse but we shouldn’t be surprised,” Vasquez stated. “What should be a legitimate town hall for Linden residents to express their growing displeasure over the Mayor’s personal use of city vehicles, the lack of a plan to fill the vacancies on Wood Avenue, or the poor condition of Linden Train Station, has been replaced by a thinly veiled and invite-only campaign rally to be held in the taxpayers’ Council Chambers.”

This is not the first time Derek Armstead has been accused of using city resources for his own convenience. He recently acquired a $70,000 luxury SUV through the police department and has been accused of having police officers assigned to chauffeur himself and his friends to political events.

“It’s so disappointing,” said Democratic candidate for Mayor Gretchen Hickey. “I wish the Mayor would focus more on public safety and fixing our community and less on his own luxuries. There’s a perfectly good and rentable community center attached to City Hall.  There are Linden businesses, restaurants and halls, many I am sure would host the Mayor’s campaign town hall. Of course, those would require a small rental fee.”

“I’m tired of the Mayor thinking that the rules do not to apply to him,” said Hickey. “I look forward to making that point as we continuing building towards victory on June 5th.”

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