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TEANECK -- Tonight's selection of the town's next mayor -- usually a relatively humdrum affair -- has become a hot-button issue, with some residents complaining that a failure to promote Deputy Mayor Lizette Parker would smack of racism and sexism.
Parker, who has served as deputy mayor since her first election four years ago, received more votes than any other candidate in May, a point she and many supporters have made.
But while the top vote-getter has become mayor twice in the last three cycles, it has not historically ensured a mayoral appointment. Indeed, according to Councilman Elie Katz -- who declared Tuesday that he would not support Parker -- it has only happened twice in the last 10 elections.
The reorganization meeting will take place tonight. The council elects a new mayor with a public vote, although horse-trading behind the scenes usually means the council knows who will win beforehand.
At Tuesday's council meeting, a number of residents wondered aloud why Parker was not a shoo-in.
"The community has spoken," Patricia White said. "Do the right thing."
And Estina Baker, the president of the Bergen County chapter of the NAACP, said...