Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh tonight won reelection to a second term as the elected leader of Silk City.

In a low turnout election, Sayegh defeated Third Ward Councilman Alex Mendez, former Second Ward Councilman Aslon Goow, Councilman Mike Jackson and Councilman Luis Velez.

Sayegh won by a comfortable margin, defeating two councilman under indictment (Mendez) and (Jackson) amid some quiet hand-wringing about ethnic politics propelling Mendez.

The mayor’s victory makes him the first Paterson chief executive to win a second consecutive term since Jose “Joey” Torres did it back in 2006.

Sayegh is also the first mayor in 50 years to garner (almost) 50% of the vote – with the exception of U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, who as mayor won 51.4 percent of the vote.