July 8, 2009 - 7:17am
News

Marable elected to lead Orange Council

Council President Ed Marable, Jr.

The Orange City Council last night elected South Ward Councilman Ed Marable, Jr., council president.

The vote was 5-0-2, with only Marable and West Ward Councilman Hassan Abul-Rasheed abstaining.

"I'm motivated to make a difference," said Marable.

An attorney and Orange native, the new council president succeeds Councilwoman Lisa Perkins in the local governing body's command chair.

An unsuccessful off-the-line candidate two years ago for the 27th District Assembly seat occupied by jailed former Assemblyman/Mayor Mims Hackett, Marable later considered running for mayor of Orange.

Ultimately, the independent Democrat decided to back the man who would become that contest's eventual winner.

Marable's early endorsement helped propel Eldridge Hawkins, Jr., acolyte of Senate President Richard Codey (D-Roseland), giving some comfort level to local good government types resistant to Democratic Party machine politics and initially doubtful of newcomer Hawkins. 

Since that time, Marable has been the young mayor's solid ally.

Max Pizarro is a PolitickerNJ.com Reporter and can be reached via email at max@politicsnj.com.