Could Paterson school board soon have Latino majority? Backlash over use of 'dominancy'

PATERSON — The possibility of this November’s election producing a Latino majority on Paterson’s school board is already stirring political controversy with racial undertones.

At a Puerto Rican flag-raising ceremony outside City Hall late in August, school board member Eddie Gonzalez urged the crowd to support the three Latino candidates in the upcoming education election.

“It will be the first time in history that we would have the dominancy as it relates to the city of Paterson,” Gonzalez said to the cheering audience.

But Gonzalez’ use of the word “dominancy” has caused a backlash among some of Paterson’s African American community leaders. One of Gonzalez’ school board colleagues, Valerie Freeman, said she was disheartened by the speech and asked him for an explanation during Wednesday night’s Board of Education meeting.

Story continues below photo gallery

“It was a bad choice of words,” Gonzalez said, adding that he should have talked about a Latino “majority” and not dominance.

Gonzalez also bemoaned the fact that one word he uttered during a two-and-a-half-hour ceremony had drawn so much attention. He accused his critics of exploiting his misstatement for political reasons, saying they were playing “politricks.”

The most recent United States Census data says that 98,863 of Paterson’s 159,732 residents — or 62% — are Hispanic or Latino. But during most of the past 15 years, Black officials have held most elected offices in the city.

School board has 4 Blacks, 4 Latinos currently

At present, the Paterson school board is comprised of four Black and four Latino members, and one Bangladeshi member. The racial makeup could change after the November election.

Two Latino incumbents — Manny Martinez and Oshin Castillo — are not seeking re-election. The field of five people running in November includes three Latino challengers — Hector Nieves, Kenneth Rosado, and Erica Plaza — and two African American candidates, incumbent Nakima Redmon and former board member Corey Teague.

Teague said he was not won over by Gonzalez’ explanation for his use of the word “dominancy.”

More: Paterson has 152 teaching vacancies as school year looms

More: Paterson will move popular principal elsewhere, despite unhappy parents and teachers

“Majority is just a softer way of saying the same thing,” Teague asserted. “He said what he said on the steps of City Hall in front of a microphone in broad daylight.”

During Wednesday’s board meeting, Redmon said she was “annoyed” by Gonzalez’ words at the Puerto Rican flag ceremony. She also indicated she was not satisfied with her colleague’s explanation.

“When somebody shows you who they are, you have to believe who they are,” Redmon said during the meeting.

Meanwhile, Gonzalez said it was important to have Latino representatives on the school board because he said he gets many phone calls from Paterson residents who do not speak English asking for his help.

“It’s not about race, it’s about representation,” Gonzalez asserted.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Could Paterson school board soon have Latino majority? Backlash over use of 'dominancy'