Looks like a fine, upstanding used car salesman.
Posted on 01/05/2007 7:14:46 AM PST by Cagey
Jersey City Deputy Mayor Ador Equipado resigned last night after The Jersey Journal made inquiries about him demanding cash from a couple he married in October and using the occasion to peddle his private phone service business.
"It is the policy of my office that a mayor, deputy mayor, or any other individual designated to perform marriage or civil ceremonies should not derive a fee for this service," Mayor Jerramiah Healy said in a statement.
The matter came to light this week after the bride and her mother contacted The Jersey Journal and said that City Hall had taken no action when they complained.
Jersey City resident Donnell Morrison, who tied the knot at City Hall on Oct. 6, said Equipado spent the first 10 minutes with her and her husband-to-be quizzing them about their finances and what phone service they used.
When she demanded to know what this had to do with administering the nuptials - which the $66,000-a-year deputy mayor is empowered to do - Equipado handed her and her mother, Carmen Hayes, applications for a phone service he sells.
Morrison said Equipado finally proceeded with the wedding after she insisted she wasn't changing phone carriers.
But the static wasn't over.
Seconds after the bride kissed the groom, Equipado demanded $50 cash, Morrison and Hayes said.
Morrison told Equipado she had already paid the $28 marriage fee charged by the City Clerk's Office. She said she was told there would be no other charges - which officials confirmed is in fact city policy.
At that point, according to Morrison and Hayes, Equipado said, "Consider it a donation to me."
The groom was about to pay Equipado, Hayes said, but she intervened.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
In Hudson County, of all places.
Dem? You gotta read the whole article.
What refreshing candor. He'll go far...
Looks like a fine, upstanding used car salesman.
And on his business card is says something like "When you buy from Ador you can get your car Equipado any way you want."
Regards, Ivan
The title should be fixed - it was the DEPUTY mayor, not the mayor.
He's a Republican.
He was first appointed to Jersey City government by Brett Schundler. He's an American of Filippino descent. Seems like he's brought some of the politcal flavor or Manila politics with him (where corruption is a systematic part of society, culture and politics).
Of course, he's also been dead for 14 years.
He's a Jerk.
I would laugh if it weren't true.
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