Who's behind the political group that held a $5K-a-ticket bash for Andre Sayegh?

PATERSON — A mystery political organization that calls itself Citizens4NJProgress, Inc. celebrated Mayor Andre Sayegh’s birthday on Monday by hosting an event with $5,000 “gold sponsor” tickets at Kanoon Restaurant in Clifton.

The event fueled speculation among Passaic County political insiders about Sayegh’s aspirations to represent his hometown in Congress.

Citizens4NJProgress, Inc. is not registered as a political committee with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission nor with the Federal Election Commission, according to officials at those agencies.

Paterson Press asked Sayegh about the group and whether Monday’s event was connected to a possible run for Congress.

“Your questions should be directed to that entity. As always, I am focused on Paterson,” was all Sayegh would say.

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In addition to Monday’s Citizens4NJProgress, Inc. event, the mayor’s personal campaign committee, Friends of Andre Sayegh, was planning to hold a separate “birthday celebration” for him on Tuesday night at The Brownstone banquet hall in Paterson. Tickets for that bash ranged from $300 for a “local supporter” to $2,600 for a “host,” according to the invitation.

People attending Sayegh’s birthday party on Monday afternoon were told to contact Scorpion Consulting, a Hoboken-based political fundraising organization. Scorpion’s president, Leila Sadeghi, issued a four-sentence statement on Tuesday morning in response to questions from Paterson Press.

“Citizens4NJProgress, Inc is a 527 political organization,” Sadeghi said, referring to an Internal Revenue Service code number for certain political groups.

“The mission of the organization is to support progress for New Jersey’s citizens,” Sadeghi added. “The organization identifies candidates/elected officials that exemplify the mission statement and invites them as special guests to events. For the purposes of today, Mayor Andre Sayegh was an invited Special Guest.”

Citizens4NJProgress did not provide a copy of that mission statement. Paterson Press searched the IRS website and could not find any reports, registration papers, or other filings for Citizens4NJProgress. Paterson Press asked Citizens4NJProgress for those documents but did not receive anything.

The Sayegh party invitation for the noon event on Monday listed a post office box in Caldwell as Citizens4NJProgress’ address. Besides the top-dollar gold sponsor admission, the invitation included a $2,500 “sponsor,” $1,000 “host” and $500 “friend” tickets.

The invitation also said, “Contributions to Citizens4NJProgress, Inc. are not deductible for federal income tax purposes as charitable contributions.”

Scorpion has a track record of conducting fundraisers for political figures in both parties. For example, in September 2021, Scorpion held an event at a Hoboken restaurant for Republican Jack Ciattarelli’s gubernatorial campaign. The most expensive tickets for that event were $1,000.

Paterson currently is represented in Congress by former mayor Bill Pascrell Jr., who has held the congressional seat for 28 years. Pascrell won reelection last November and the 86-year-old lawmaker has announced he would run again in 2024.

"Congressman Pascrell filed his candidacy with the Federal Election Commission, he will be running for reelection in 2024, and is excited to help Democrats take back the House from radical Republicans,” said Pascrell campaign spokesman Ben Rich.

Pascrell was among Sayegh’s mentors. Political insiders privately offered conflicting opinions about whether Sayegh would challenge Pascrell. Insiders said the two state Assembly members who represent Paterson — Shavonda Sumter and Benjie Wimberly — also loom as possible contenders for the congressional seat when Pascrell eventually steps aside.

Sumter and Wimberly said they were not familiar with the group that hosted Sayegh’s birthday celebration on Monday.

Joe Malinconico is editor of Paterson Press. Email: editor@patersonpress.com