Mayor of Paterson, New Jersey
Terms in Office: 2002–2010 and 2014–2017
José “Joey” Torres served as Mayor of Paterson, New Jersey, during two non-consecutive periods, first from 2002 to 2010 and again from 2014 until his resignation in 2017. A lifelong Paterson resident, Torres became the city’s first Latino mayor, reflecting the growing influence of Paterson’s Hispanic community and marking an important milestone in the city’s political history.
Born in Paterson in 1958 to Puerto Rican parents, Torres was raised in the city’s Christopher Columbus public housing complex. Before becoming mayor, he served five terms on the Paterson City Council after first being elected in 1990, including service as Council President. His early political career focused on neighborhood improvement, affordable housing, public safety, and community development.
Torres was elected mayor in 2002, defeating incumbent Martin G. Barnes, and was re-elected in 2006. During his administration, he emphasized economic revitalization, downtown redevelopment, expanded affordable housing, and investment in city neighborhoods. His administration supported after-school programs, encouraged business development through the Urban Enterprise Zone, and promoted redevelopment projects intended to strengthen Paterson’s economy.
After narrowly losing his re-election bid in 2010, Torres returned to office by winning the 2014 mayoral election. His second administration continued to focus on economic development and municipal services. However, his tenure became overshadowed by legal troubles stemming from allegations that city employees performed work at private properties while on municipal time.
In September 2017, Torres pleaded guilty to official misconduct charges and resigned as mayor. His resignation ended his third term in office, and he was succeeded on an interim basis by Ruby Cotton before Jane Williams-Warren was appointed to complete the remainder of the term.
Despite the controversy surrounding the end of his political career, Joey Torres remains a significant figure in Paterson’s history. As the city’s first Latino mayor, he represented an important chapter in Paterson’s evolving political and demographic landscape, serving the city for more than a decade as its chief executive and leaving a lasting impact on its civic development.