S. Harrison's first black mayor, to resign

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By Jan Hefler

Inquirer Staff Writer

Charles Tyson, elected South Harrison Township's first black mayor in 2006, said yesterday that he had been worn down by racism in the Gloucester County farm community and would resign as deputy mayor effective today.

Growing up in the town of 2,700 people, he never felt the sting of intolerance, said Tyson, 67, whose term of office was to expire in December 2010.

Soon after news spread that he would be the Democratic candidate for mayor, his tires were slashed, his campaign signs were defaced, and he was subjected to threatening phone calls and e-mails laced with racial epithets.

When Tyson stepped down as mayor in January, it was to honor his family's wishes, he said. He would stay on as deputy mayor, he explained, to finish several projects. Some - including installation of the town's first traffic signal - have been concluded, but others remain on the books.

"I'm not worried about those anymore," said Tyson, who will leave government service after eight years on the township committee. "I was totally shocked at all the things that happened to me. I'm done. It's time."

Tyson, the owner of a landscaping and a home golf-greens installation business, said he was disappointed that only one person had been arrested in connection with late-night calls that contained racial slurs and death threats to Tyson and his family. Tyson told authorities that different voices could be heard in the calls and messages, which spanned several months.

The FBI apprehended William A. White, an avowed white supremacist from Virginia, who has been indicted for placing some of the hate calls to Tyson, a Canadian civil rights lawyer, and others. White is incarcerated and awaiting trial.

The Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office and local police have made no arrests. Investigators have said that the other calls were traced to disposable phones, but that the probe remains active.

Tyson said yesterday that he also was upset that the police chief had failed to discipline Patrolman Nicholas Barbetta after Tyson accused Barbetta of shoving him during an argument in Tyson's driveway in September 2008.

Barbetta allegedly pushed the then-mayor during a conversation about why he voted against the officer's promotion. Tyson said he tried to explain that he had wanted more details from the Police Department.

Reached last night, Barbetta said he had no comment.

The Prosecutor's Office found insufficient evidence to charge Barbetta with assault. The prosecutor referred the matter to South Harrison Police Chief Warren Mabey for possible disciplinary action.

Barbetta was never punished, Tyson said yesterday. He said the lack of action had undermined his ability to run the town.

At a public meeting last year, Mabey denied that intolerance existed in the Police Department. He did not return calls for comment last night.