The Mayor of a New Jersey metropolis is accused of campaigning door-to-door in a surgical masks and swimsuit, amid the coronavirus pandemic, based on a report on Sunday.
Pictures on Saturday allegedly captured Linden Mayor, Derek Armstead, out speaking to native residents with sixth Ward council candidate Joao Goncalves, who was seen holding a clipboard.
“He’s out ringing doorbells along with his sixth Ward candidate… Are you kidding me?” Councilman John Francis Roman informed NJ.com.
Roman, a Democrat, who’s operating towards Goncalves, mentioned he had “a dozen neighbors calling me freaking out” about them going door-to-door.
In response, Armstead informed the web site on Sunday he was simply speaking with mates of Goncalves — who lives on the road.
“Everybody desires to make a giant deal out of this,” he added.
Armstead mentioned they’d a gathering at Goncalves’s home and stopped to speak with a pal of his on the best way again to his automobile. He informed NJ.com they’d clipboards and marketing campaign provides as a result of they have been persevering with the assembly after they acquired to his residence.
“That is clearly coming from the opposing facet,” Goncalves mentioned, based on the web site. “We have been within the improper place on the improper time, and so they’re utilizing this towards me.”
Goncalves added that neighbors approached Armstead as a result of they have been star-struck.
A resident spoke to NJ.com and mentioned her ex-husband, who lives on the road, was completely satisfied to talk to the Armstead. She mentioned he didn’t acknowledge that Armstead was campaigning, whereas one other particular person, mentioned the mayor “was harassing everyone.”
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy really helpful towards campaigning door-to-door in a press convention on April 7.
On Friday, Armstead wrote on Fb that we should stand behind entrance line employees by doing what’s required of us, “Follow Social Distancing and Staying House.”