PLUMSTED – A recall effort against Committeeman Dominick Cuozzo fell short of its mark having not secured the required number of signatures.
If the opposition had received enough signatures within the allotted time, it would have led to a recall vote during November’s general election.
Once it was initiated, those who hoped to unseat him, had approximately 160 days to gather roughly 1,650 signatures of registered voters which represents the required 25% of the total electorate – to force a recall election.
Cuozzo, who serves as the pastor of the Bible Baptist Church, was sworn into office in January of 2022.
The Committeeman was accused of extending his personal and religious beliefs into his actions in public office. He told The Jackson Times that he had never abused his power of office in any way.
Committeeman Cuozzo posted on the social media page Recall Committeeman Dominick Cuozzo, “the losing recall committee admitted that they only got 97 of the 1,600 signatures required. Pretty pathetic. Regardless of the intentions of the losing recall committee, it’s nice to know that I still have the support of the people.”
“I have never faltered in my efforts to represent the values of the people of this wonderful township. May God help me to continue to serve our community well,” Cuozzo added.
In a personal statement to The Jackson Times that he stressed that his statements didn’t represent an official township communication nor an official church communication. “My family and I have been serving the people of this town for nearly 14 years, and the community knows us well.”
“My dedication to our residents has always been clear and unwavering. People have seen my genuine efforts to benefit our community and can distinguish fact from fiction. Serving people is my priority, and it always will be,” he added.
Resident Kate Tallon initiated the recall campaign. “I began working on that back in October. The biggest problem I encountered was finding people to sign onto the Recall Committee because they all feared retribution from him.”
“In the first several months of office I witnessed behavior unbecoming of an elected official, including mocking police, berating municipal employees and fellow committee members and laughing at residents who disagreed with his views to have the church create the moral guidance for the government,” she added.
She said during an April 7, 2022 meeting “Committeeman Cuozzo brought some things to light in regards to him not getting his business cards ordered yet and his name not being on the sign out in the front of the municipal building. He publicly blasted the township clerk (Jennifer Witham) for not getting these things done in a more timely manner to the point that she was then sobbing.”
“The things that happened during the recall campaign made it almost impossible for anyone to stand up and speak out against him. We saw time and time again that he sought retribution after anyone who came out to speak against him, including our entire police force,” Tallon added.
Tallon said, “we did get well over a thousand signatures and I think that speaks a lot because we barely had time to put any effort into it with all of the defensive moves, we had to do against his cruel tactics trying to harm us and our families.”
The recall committee included Ryan Kertis, the former vice president of the Plumsted Republican Club, Stacy Reed, a Republican and Linda Salcfas, a Democrat.
Reed told The Jackson Times that Cuozzo was incorrect when he said there was just 97 signatures. “I am very pleased with the amount of signatures the committee was able to obtain. It was very disheartening to hear from residents that supported the effort but were not willing to sign the recall. I personally spoke with so many residents and listened to their reasons for not signing.”
“I have been accused of having personal reasons for the recall effort. That is in no way true. I could see the direction the township was going in at the direction of Committeeman Cuozzo. It is now getting worse and will only continue that way. I feel that our fate is sealed and it will not be in the best interest of our town,” she added.
Kertis told The Jackson Times, “Although the Recall Committee did not succeed, I think the team that was working the pavement on this committee succeeded in bringing attention to local government and the expected ethics associated with positions within it. I am hopeful in the future that residents of Plumsted Township that disagree with the behavior of politicians are met with a cordial conversation instead of a Cease and Desist for the betterment of our community moving forward.”
Salcfas said she was “also sorry the recall did not transpire. Things have drastically changed in the past four years, to my dislike. Never were there ever any words on political standings. It is sad what is happening here. Hopefully, things will change, but right now it doesn’t look that way. This town is so torn.”
A post made to the Recall Committeeman Dominick Cuozzo Facebook page states, “this page will be changing its name but continuing on with its goal of local political transparency. We still hold firm to the view that certain local government officials are acting abhorrently and cruelly, and we choose to not sit idle while this occurs.”
For months the recall effort had been part of an ongoing social media debate between supporters and opponents of Cuozzo. Several Plumsted/New Egypt themed social media sites have featured long threads of debate involving the recall effort, the primary election and more recently, the township’s No-Knock Ordinance which is in the process of being revised.
There has been talk around the community that Cuozzo will be chosen among his fellow committee members to serve as mayor during January’s reorganization meeting.
In Plumsted’s form of government, the mayor is not elected by the public but nominated and voted on annually by members of the Committee itself. While the five seated committeemen are Republicans there has been strong disagreement between current Mayor Robert Bowen and Cuozzo in recent months.
Mayor Bowen introduced a resolution calling for Cuozzo to be censured in May following an incident concerning police enforcement of the township’s No-Knock Ordinance and members of Cuozzo’s church who were soliciting on April 23 in violation of the currently worded ordinance.
Mayor Bowen said the police body camera footage showing Cuozzo telling police that he was their boss and that they shouldn’t cite them ran contrary to state ethics rules pertaining to elected officials.
Cuozzo said the township’s ordinance wasn’t constitutional and called Bowen’s action “a political hit job.” The resolution to censure Cuozzo was deadlocked two to two but Cuozzo was able to vote against it breaking the tie.
During one recent Committee meeting, Deputy Mayor Herb Marinari pleaded with his fellow committeemen and the public for more understanding, less arguments and better communication for the betterment of the community.
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