• The lawsuit claims the city changed its bidding process to favor a donor to the mayor's reelection campaign, violating New Jersey's pay-to-play laws.
• The former employee, Maria Rivera, states she was contacted by the FBI regarding alleged corruption before being terminated by the city.
• City officials have declined to comment on the pending litigation and personnel matter.

PERTH AMBOY – The city's former purchasing agent has filed a whistleblower lawsuit alleging she was fired in 2025 for opposing the awarding of a city contract to a political donor.

Maria Rivera, who began working for the city on a part-time basis in 2002 and became purchasing agent in 2021, alleges her firing was in violation of the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act. The lawsuit, which seeks a jury trial, names the city, Mayor Helmin Caba, Business Administrator Talib Aquil and City Director of Law William P. Opel as defendants.

Rivera alleges the city brought baseless ethics charges against her after her opposition to awarding insurance contracts to political donors, apparently part of an FBI investigation; to ensure she would not witness further malfeasance; and to discredit her as a potential witness.

Court records show the city has not yet filed a response to the Nov. 10, 2025 lawsuit handled by attorney Colin Page.

"Because this matter involves pending litigation and a personnel issue, the city will not be providing further comment at this time," said Lisett Lebron, Perth Amboy chief...

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