Castañeda doesn’t attend hearing

WEST NEW YORK – West New York Democratic Municipal Chairman Jonathan Castañeda chose not to appear at a hearing meant to address a challenge to petitions filed by Commissioner Cosmo Cirillo before Town Clerk Carmela Riccie on Wednesday, opting to send his attorneys instead.

The hearing, which is closed to the press, addresses charges made by attorneys aligned with West New York Mayor Felix Roque that claim Castañeda circulated petitions without a candidate’s name attached and misled signers about what race the petitions were for.

The challenge targets 20 of the town’s 58 county committee seats.

Riccie said she would issue a decision on the challenge by 1 p.m.