Al Abdelaziz resigned to accept his seat in the State Assembly, leaving Ibrahim Omar as the next city councilman from Paterson’s Sixth Ward, who took office tonight.
Omar was unanimously chosen by the council to be Abdelaziz’s council aide.
Mayor Andre Sayegh, who served in the Sixth Ward until his election as mayor in 2018, expressed his desire to carry on the area’s longstanding legacy of responsible leadership.
The appointment tonight completes the circle of Paterson’s history, which started in August 2024 with the passing of former Mayor Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. Pascrell was replaced in Congress by State Senator Nellie Pou, Benjie Wimberly was elected Senate by a single vote, and Abdelaziz was elected assemblyman from the 35th legislative district to replace Wimberly.
In order to fill the remaining 31 months of Abdelaziz’s tenure, Omar, also known as Ibby, will have a nine-month head start before first appearing before voters in a special election in November.
