Challenged by rival in Passaic mayor's race, Ellen stands by his story

Mayoral candidate Carl Ellen: Politicker photoPASSAIC - One candidate’s revelation that someone offered him a bribe to get out of the mayor’s race has touched off a battle of words between the campaigns of two old friends, who grew up in the same neighborhood here.

Carl Ellen, a candidate for mayor in the City of Passaic, said the U.S. Attorney’s Office today postponed until next Thursday what Ellen described as his scheduled Grand Jury appearance.

"I was told to appear at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Trenton at 10 a.m.," said the candidate.

Ellen yesterday said he received a subpoena from U.S. Attorney Chris Christie’s office to answer questions about a $25,000 bribe the local businessman said someone offered him as a reward for getting out of the mayor’s race.

He would not reveal the name of the person he says offered him the bribe.

Ellen yesterday told PolitickerNJ.com that the subpoena he received this week was an invitation to answer questions today in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Today he confirmed that he would go before a Grand Jury.

"No comment’ said Michael Drewniak, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The campaign of at least one of Ellen’s opponents in the five-man mayoral contest responded with scepticism to Ellen’s story about someone offering him a bribe.

"Nobody ever offered him anything," said Alex Ybarra, campaign manager for Vincent Capuana, a city supervisor and President of the School Board.

"He (Ellen) made this whole thing up," Ybarra said. "You’re insignificant in the polls, you’re polling at seven percent - the next thing you know, he’s screaming ‘bribery.’ He needed a headline. The only thing that’s going to happen is he’s going to be embarrassed."

Capuana and Ellen grew up together on Washington Place.

Challenged by PolitickerNJ.com about the validity of his story, Ellen defended it, and defended his decision not to reveal the identity of the person he says offered him a bribe.

"What would be my advantage in making that up?" said Ellen in a cellphone conversation as he campaigned. "I cannot turn around and rat someone out. I can only say that it did happen. And those who made the offer, know it happened. I want to just leave it alone. I’m not the culprit there. I did nothing wrong.

"I was told, ‘If you stay out of the race, than the black vote is up for grabs.’ It happened. It definitely happened. Everyone knows, I don’t lie. You won’t find a person in Passaic who says Carl Ellen lies. I’m here as an honest candidate to do the best I can. I will fight to the end. We won’t go to sleep in this campaign.

"When you start casting stones, be careful where you cast, especially when you’re at fault," the candidate added.

Councilman Joe Garcia, another candidate in the race for mayor, said he had not heard until today about Ellen receiving a subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

"Somebody just told me," Garcia said. "I don’t know anything about it, and I don’t bother to get involved. I just let it go and let everybody do what they do. I’m going to do what I do. I’m just knocking on doors and talking to people and that’s it."

Also campaigning on Wednesday evening, physician Alex Blanco was blunt in summing up the Ellen case, and said his rival has a couple of options: tell the truth or risk being branded a liar.

"His integrity is going to be tested with this moment of truth," said Blanco.

The fifth candidate in the race, real estate developer Jose Sandoval, issued a statement this evening.

"I had no knowledge of the event until I was notified by the Herald News," he said. "I saw Mr. Ellen at the Mexican flag-raising but have not discussed the matter."