JACKSON – Mayor Jennifer Kuhn said that she and her administration will build on communication, fiscal responsibility, and holding developers accountable if voters keep her in the mayor’s seat.
Endorsed by the Jackson GOP, Kuhn heads the “Standing up for Jackson” team. She faces two challengers – Republican Elliott Shem-Tov and Democrat Brandon Rose – who are profiled in other articles. The election on November 3 is for a four-year term. There are also two council seats on the ballot.
Kuhn, 46, lives in the Brookwood section of the township and said she was “a proud third-generation Jackson resident with more than 65 years of family residency in Jackson.
“I am a real estate professional. I have built a career of more than 20 years in an industry where accountability, communication, attention to detail, and follow-through are essential. I teach real estate professionals multiple times a year throughout the country, where agents and brokers attend my classes to learn more about our profession.”
She added that her 20-plus-year career “taught me something that has become especially important to me as mayor: people want to know that when they raise a concern, someone is listening and will follow up. In my profession, you cannot simply tell someone you will take care of something and then walk away. You have to follow through, communicate, and ensure the matter gets resolved.”
Kuhn said one of the “first priorities I implemented in my administration was making follow-up to residents a fundamental part of how we operate. I believe a resident should not have to wonder what happened to their complaint, question, or request. Even when the answer is not what someone hoped for, they deserve an answer and an understanding of what is being done.”
“My professional career has prepared me to bring that same level of accountability, responsiveness, and follow-through to the mayor’s office. I believe residents deserve a government that listens, responds, and follows through and that is the standard I have worked to establish since taking office.”
She said she was running for mayor because “I believe Jackson needs consistent, experienced leadership and a clear four-year plan for the future. Over the past year, we have started addressing many longstanding issues that were created and worsened under the former mayor, but we have only scratched the surface. Significant work remains to continue cleaning up and improving the way our Township operates.”
“I want to continue the work we have started: cracking down on illegal rentals and corrupt landlords; collecting unpaid back taxes from big developers and others; preserving more open space from development; and keeping our community safe. I am confident we can do all of this while still keeping municipal taxes down and delivering high-quality services,” Kuhn added.
She noted that Jackson is a large and growing community, “and we need leadership that is focused not just on the next election, but on where this Township needs to be four, eight, and even 20 years from now so that future mayors and councils have a strong foundation on which to move forward. I am seeking a full term because I believe continuity matters.”
“We need a clear plan, measurable goals, and the commitment to see that plan through. Most importantly, I want to continue building a Township government that residents can trust, one that listens, takes action, and follows through. I am proud of what we have begun, but I know there is much more work ahead, and I am ready to continue doing that work for the residents of Jackson,” she added.
Kuhn said “under Jackson’s Faulkner Act form of government, the mayor and council have distinct roles and responsibilities. The mayor does not serve as a member of the council; as mayor, I attend Council meetings as a guest unless the Council President recognizes me to speak. I believe that makes it even more important for the mayor to have a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities, to work professionally with the council, and to ensure the administration operates effectively.”
Kuhn said she wishes to bring “fiscal responsibility, public safety, and follow-through. My goal is not to create conflict between the mayor and council, but to respect the separation of responsibilities while ensuring the administration does its job and moves Jackson forward with a clear four-year plan.”
“We need to control development, preserve more open space, and plan responsibly for the future of the township. We are a large and growing community, and our government must keep pace with the needs of our residents. That is why we created the Rental Safety Bureau, which has brought more than 1,000 previously unregistered rental properties into compliance. I got tough with big developers and demanded they pay millions in back taxes owed to the township,” Kuhn said.
Kuhn added, “we have kept municipal taxes flat, while still providing quality services to residents, and continue to invest in public safety. I was honored to hire the township’s first female chief of police. Moving forward, I want Jackson to have a clear four-year strategic plan with measurable goals, timelines, and accountability. That includes continuing to address infrastructure and traffic, public safety, code enforcement, property maintenance, municipal staffing and operations, finances, and responsible land use.”
“I am proud to live in Jackson. I am a lifelong, third-generation Jackson resident, and I have a tremendous amount of pride in our community. Jackson has challenges, but there is also so much to be proud of. We have dedicated residents, employees, volunteers, first responders, businesses, families, and community organizations who care deeply about this township,” she said.
Kuhn believes, “morale improves when people see their government functioning, communicating, and following through. Residents want to know that when they report a problem, someone is listening and, most importantly, that something is actually being done about it. Since taking office as mayor, I have made it a priority to create more avenues for residents to have their voices heard and to ensure those concerns get to the appropriate departments for action.”
“My approach to morale is to focus on results rather than rhetoric,” she added. “My goal is to continue building that sense of pride by making sure residents see a township government that listens, responds, and follows through.”
When asked about campaigning Kuhn noted that it was “an opportunity to listen. I have been speaking with residents, business owners, community members, and families throughout the township, and those conversations have reinforced how much people care about Jackson’s future. I have heard consistently that residents are tired of the negativity, and personal attacks that can sometimes surround local politics. This campaign is about the people of Jackson and the future of our township.”
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