The Jersey City Council by a 5 to 4 vote refused to confirm the appointment of Carlo Abad who would have become the first Asian American chief municipal judge of Jersey City, reports the Asian Journal.
The council person who cast the fifth and deciding vote against Abad happens to be the first Filipino American councilmember in Jersey City, Rolando Lavarro (pictured here)
“I struggled with the decision and I know how important it is to the Filipino community and I know how important it is myself to see one of my kababayans…I just ask for the folks’ patience because these tactics by the mayor are the lowest tactics divide communities and pit kababayan against kababayan,” an emotional and teary-eyed Lavarro told the Asian Journal. “I can assure the Filipino people that I will not rest until what is right is done and we’re going to fight to make sure that the process is corrected so that Carlo Abad has the fair opportunity that he deserves.”
Opponents of Abad had criticized Mayor Jerramiah Healy for politicizing the appointment. But it can be equally argued that politics played a hand in the confirmation being denied. More on that in the Asian Journal.