Brothers at the polls

Local Democrats are protesting a former Passaic councilman facing federal corruption charges working at a West Paterson polling site.

Jonathan Soto, who was indicted last week for allegedly accepting $22,000 in bribes from an undercover FBI agent, has been checking in voters at the West Paterson Boys and Girls Club since 6 a.m. Soto said he was trained by the Board of Elections last week.

“I took the class. There were vacancies in West Paterson, so I’m working,” said Soto explaining how he came to work for the Board of Elections today.

In a statement released on Tuesday, West Paterson Democratic Chairman Michael Kazmark questioned the Board of Elections allowing Soto to work the polling site. Soto's brother, Arthur, sits as a Passaic County Board of Elections commissioner.

“We certainly believe that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but the appearance of having someone under federal indictment work the polls here in town is not the appearance the Republicans should want to project,” Kazmark said.

Arthur Soto, a Republican who ran for Passaic County freeholder in 2006, said he had selected his brother along with several other local GOP members to work the polls.

“He had already been put in as a board worker prior to indictment,” Arthur Soto said. “Going forward, he probably will not be on the list.”

Poll workers receive a stipend of $200 for working from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Jonathan Soto has been suspended with pay from his job as a middle school social studies teacher in Passaic since his September arrest. After his indictment last week, the district moved to suspend him without pay pending his trial.

- Paul Brubaker