JACKSON – Summer may ending but the political temperature in the township is still heating up – and it isn’t limited to the nine candidates seeking election in November.
Mayor Jennifer Kuhn said she felt threatened over recent incidents. She is seeking to retain her appointed position by being elected on November 3. Social media threats and packages have prompted an investigation.
There was an unpleasant encounter between her and Steven Wronko during Jackson Day on August 23, regarding a conversation about public records that involved police being called and a subsequent debate online. Kuhn alerted nearby police of the situation having told the Wronko that this wasn’t the time or place to discuss the matter. Police subsequently spoke with him and directed him away from an area near an emergency command vehicle.
Wronko was not arrested, issued a summons, or charged with a crime as a result of the encounter. On her social media page, the mayor stated on August 24, “yesterday was all about Jackson – bringing our community together and enjoying a family event.”
“One individual from outside of Jackson who has a history as a political agitator across New Jersey, came to the event with a very different agenda. Wearing the campaign shirt of another ticket, he followed me around with a camera, shouted at me, and aggressively attempted to provoke a confrontation for his own agenda,” Kuhn added.
She noted, “that behavior was inappropriate, intimidating, and completely out of place at a family community event. Anyone is welcome to schedule a meeting with me at town hall, ask me questions, challenge my decisions, or contact me directly. He could even have donated $5 to the Jackson Food Pantry and dunked me in the dunk tank but following someone around with a camera, shouting at them and attempting to intimidate them is not legitimate political discourse.”
Kuhn said “the political rhetoric in our community has become increasingly personal and hostile, and we should all recognize where that can lead. Disagreement is acceptable. Harassment is not.”
The Jackson Times observed that incident and even voiced that Jackson Day was a time for community and fun. The individual ignored that statement and proceeded to continue his video recording and narration on his phone that was recording the incident for a social media post.
Mayoral candidate Elliot Shem-Tov told The Jackson Times that he met with the mayor a day after the incident to see that she was alright and has condemned any action of inappropriate behavior. He said he the situation could have been de-escalated by directing Wronko to contact her office later rather than allowing the confrontation to escalate.
Kuhn reported that she has received inappropriate threatening voicemails, including messages containing threats against her life. Police are investigating those reported threats.
Councilman Chris Pollak who is running on the ballot with Shem-Tov has called out the administration’s prior hiring of a township-based media agency which attacked his character during last year’s campaign season and was later critical of Kuhn after the agency’s contract wasn’t renewed by the township. He has also noted hostility toward political opponents and citizens who voice differing opinions.
Council meetings have seen a large turnout in recent months and voices have been loud in criticism toward the mayor and council about a variety of subjects. Campaigning started early in the year through not only commentary during the public comment period but through various social media pages.
If things weren’t spirited enough, a few days prior to Jackson Day, a third mayoral and council slate emerged to make the political landscape more interesting.
The Jackson GOP is backing Mayor Jennifer Kuhn for election along with her council running mates John “Pojo” Pejoski and Brian McCarron. Kuhn was appointed as mayor last October after Mayor Michael Reina resigned.
Shem-Tov is running for mayor as part of the Fight For Jackson team. He is running alongside Pollak and Amanda Trombetta who are seeking the two four-year council spots. Trombetta has described the team as being Republicans who are not part of “the political machine.”
The newest team to appear on the ballot are members of the township Democratic Club. Brandon Rose will be running for mayor. Running with him for the two council seat spots are Paul Sarti and Casey Jackson.
Social media posts on certain Facebook pages suggested that their entry into the race was orchestrated by longtime Jackson GOP member Clara Glory claiming the new slate’s presence was less about winning and more about dividing the vote and potentially helping Kuhn, McCarron and Pejoski.
Rose told The Jackson Times this wasn’t true. “I have never met Clara Glory.” He added that the idea of running had been in consideration for a while in order to give residents another choice beyond what residents currently have with the two Republican teams.
Glory also told The Jackson Times this was not the case and that she had always worked to get Republicans elected.
During a recent council meeting resident Elenor Marie Schott-Hannum spoke about prior incidents that she feels were politically motivated. She noted that two vehicles were burned around her daughter’s wedding and bridal shower. A family member’s law firm, one that had gone over 40 years without an audit, suddenly received an audit by the state bar and ever year since for the last five years. “This isn’t a coincidence.”
Hannum added that while she feels that she and her family have been threatened, she has no plans to move out of Jackson Township and would continue to speak up.
Some residents have expressed that the community needs an open debate, or at the very least a public forum, where all three parties can speak directly to township residents and provide a real conversation about what each party actually intends to do for the people of Jackson.
The Jackson Times plans to interview each of the three teams addressing specific issues of concern that have been voiced during prior council meetings such as budget preparation, transparency, township hiring practices, code enforcement and overdevelopment.
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