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 Tuesday.

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.

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