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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNJ mayor who shared Parkland conspiracy theory voted out of office
BY MAX GREENWOOD - 05/10/18 12:31 PM EDT
A New Jersey mayor who boosted a debunked conspiracy theory about the school shooting in Parkland, Fla. has lost his reelection bid, after previously rebuffing calls to resign.
Wayne Levante, the mayor of Newton, N.J., finished fourth in a seven-candidate race for three town council seats on Tuesday, New Jersey Advance Media reported. Levante, a Republican, came under fire in February after he shared a conspiracy theory on Facebook claiming that 17-year-old David Hogg, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, was really a "crisis actor."
A number of conspiracy theories emerged after the Feb. 14 shooting that left 17 people dead at the Parkland, Fla., high school. Levante defended his sharing of the theory, saying at the time that "people have a right to look at this stuff and form an opinion," according to New Jersey Advance Media.
The Newton Town Council voted in March to censure Levante, and requested his resignation. But Levante rejected those calls, and said that he would let the voters decide his fate.
The position of mayor in Newton is rotated among town council members for one-year terms. Levante rose to the job in July on a 4-0 vote.
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http://thehill.com/homenews/news/387117-nj-mayor-who-shared-parkland-conspiracy-theories-voted-out-of-office
peggysue2
(10,811 posts)My native state is shaking out the parasites since Christie's bye-bye. Good to see and read!
ismnotwasm
(41,921 posts)calimary
(80,700 posts)I hope everybody like him is shown the door.
RedSpartan
(1,693 posts)I used to live in the town next to Newton. Frankly, I'm shocked they voted him out. There's hope everywhere, I suppose.
On a related note, moving out of Sussex County to Morris County (NJ-11, red, but soon to flip blue) is the best thing I've ever done for myself and my family.