Mahwah Voters Recall Laforet

Mahwah Mayor Bill Laforet has lost his job.

Mahwah Mayor Bill Laforet has been recalled by voters.
Photo Credit: *Bill Laforet*

Former Mahwah councilman John Roth will be replacing Bill Laforet as mayor.
Photo Credit: *John Roth*

Cecilia Levine

11/06/2018 11:11 p.m.

Voters on Tuesday decided to recall the twice re-elected mayor, replacing him with former councilman John Roth.

Roth challenged Laforet for mayor in 2016 and will take over once the township clerk certifies results later this week.

Laforet will be the first public Bergen County official to be recalled in more than 25 years.

"Every elected official will swear on the bible to uphold the constitution of the United States of America," Laforet said Wednesday on Facbeook. "Never did I ever think I would be thrust into a worldwide, international conversation about the civil rights of human beings. I do not regret standing up for constitution and more specifically your civil rights. I have no regrets."

The first attempt to recall Laforet was in August 2015, but failed when the group failed to garner 4,200 signatures by its deadline.

Efforts to recall Laforet this time began in July, after he apparently went against council members on a controversial parks ordinance that resulted in a lawsuit.

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