Effort to recall Trenton mayor falls short

An effort to recall the mayor of Trenton has fallen short.

The Committee to Recall Tony Mack says it collected about 8,500 signatures calling for a new mayoral election by Monday.

To force the ballot issue, the group would have had to gather 9,860 signatures — or those of one-fourth of the city’s registered voters — by today.

The group says it hopes the effort still sends a message to the mayor of New Jersey’s capital city.

Mack has faced frequent criticism and scandal since he took office in 2010.