Montclair’s mayor and most council members will not seek re-election following controversy over accepted perks in office

Montclair’s mayor and most council members will not seek re-election following controversy over accepted perks in office. Mayor Sean Spiller and five council members have drawn criticism for using their $10,000-a-year positions to sign up for taxpayer-funded health insurance or payments for declining it. A law passed in 2019 requires full-time work for such benefits. Spiller, also president of the N.J. Education Association, did not reference the controversy when announcing he wouldn’t run for a second term. Montclair’s chief financial officer, Padmaja Rao, sued the officials for accepting benefits they weren’t entitled to, alleging she was retaliated against for raising these concerns. Councilman Bob Russo, who didn’t take these benefits, is the only incumbent seeking re-election.

From NJ Advance Media.