Perkins serving as acting mayor in Orange

The State fraud case against Mayor Hackett was based in part on a civil complaint filed by his ex-Executive Secretary. The complaint also includes the following accusations: “In April of 2006, Hackett ran his niece, Lisa A. Perkins,' campaign for City Council membership” using city employees, facilities and funds. “..Lisa Perkins’ campaign checks were issued from the Mayor's office from a Hudson City checking account called the "Re-elect Mims Hackett Fund." Workers came in daily picking up stipends for their efforts. On these occasions Hackett would meet with Orange citizens and would place campaign literature in a yellow clasp envelope handing it to them before they left.” Hackett’s Executive Secretary “was instructed to give them a package containing the leaflets and campaign letters, Mayor’s Ball letter and information on how to purchase a ticket from Altamont Muhammad, …Hackett’s Chief of Staff, (and) Confidential Aide who conducted Hackett's campaigning.” During the start of the campaign Hackett’s Executive Secretary “was required to take orders as the Executive Assistant from speeches for Ms. Perkins at Hackett’s request.” Hackett’s Executive Secretary “was also directed by Hackett to contact Ms. Virginia Perkins who recently worked at his Assembly office. Ms. Perkins delivered campaign literature, from the Assembly office to the Mayor's office. When Hackett’s Executive Secretary objected to this she was threatened with loss of her job”. She “was required to accept deliveries at the Mayor's Office for the "Elect Lisa Perkins for City Council" campaign from vendors such as D & M Printing of West Orange, promotional t-shirts from Alvenia "Doe" and schedule meetings at Sandwiches Unlimited in Orange, New Jersey for Perkins' campaign activity.” Hackett’s Chief of Staff, Altamont Muhammad, "paid the Election Day workers from sources such as Essex County Democratic Committee Funds during the Corzine campaign. During Hackett's Mayoral Campaign, ….Lisa Perkins campaign checks were issued from the Mayor's office from a Hudson City Checking account called the "Re-elect Mims Hackett Fund." “Workers came in daily picking up stipends for their efforts. On these occasions Hackett would meet with Orange citizens and would place campaign literature in a yellow clasp envelope handing it to them before they left.” "Hackett’s Executive Secretary “was instructed to give them a package containing the leaflets and campaign letters, Mayor’s Ball letter and information on how to purchase a ticket from Altamont Muhammad who conducted Hackett's campaigning from the Mayor's office”. Hackett’s Executive Secretary “was told she would be terminated if she refused to do work on Hackett's Assembly campaign”.