JACKSON – The township’s mayoral and two-seat council race seems to have been going on forever with heated exchanges during council meetings, pointed questions that weren’t always answered, and social media videos often using AI enhancements and captioned commentary. But now, with Election Day over, the three-team war has ended and the winners are the Fight For Jackson Team.
Elliott Shem-Tov will be mayor next year, earning 10,625 votes. Shem-Tov’s running mates also won council seats. Incumbent Councilman Chris Pollak received 12,157 votes and Amanda Trombetta received 10,397 votes.
They described themselves as independent Republicans and their campaign sparked a revolution within the community calling for a strong change in direction.
Incumbent Mayor Jennifer Kuhn headed the Standing Up For Jackson team. A Republican, she was appointed as mayor in October of 2025 following the resignation of Michael Reina who served in that role for nearly 15 years. She sought to be elected as mayor for a full four-year term but received 8,816 votes.
Her council candidate running mates were Township Board of Education member Brian McCarron (8,136 votes) and John “Pojo” Pejoski (8,176 votes).
Their platform focused on public safety (both council candidates came from career law enforcement backgrounds), preserving open space, and enhancing services for seniors and families. They had been endorsed by the Jackson GOP, Assemblyman Alex Saucikie (R-12), and 4th District Congressman Chris Smith.
The two GOP teams were formally in place by July but a few weeks later a Democrat team emerged, called Jackson United. Brandon A. Rose ran for mayor and received 2,868 votes. He was joined by council candidates Paul Sarti (1,883 votes) and Casey Jackson (1,919 votes). Their platform promised full transparency, a research-based decision-making processes and better communication between those in government and the public.
Some residents expressed that the addition of this team was designed to be a spoiler to aid Kuhn’s contingent but Rose told The Jackson Times that he wanted to offer voters an alternative to the two warring GOP slates. Some voters still feel their addition was a failed campaign tactic.
The Fight For Jackon team came out swinging back in January bringing on what would become their platform of breaking the machine, fighting overdevelopment, and focusing on government transparency and public accountability.
The trio gathered at CeeGees Bar & Grill in Jackson to hear the election results and the tone was jubilant and hopeful. Supporters, many of whom sported Fight For Jackson T-shirts came out with cell phones in hand to check the returns. Pollak and Trombetta were there early. When the results came in for 30 of the 34 districts, supporters were confident that victory was theirs and a collective cheer rose up. People hugged and relief was seen on the faces of candidates and supporters. Trombetta had tears of joy in her eyes as she received a hug from a friend.
Shem-Tov walked in wearing his campaign shirt and received a round of applause. “Get in here mayor-elect,” a supporter said beckoning him to the bar area of the room. The trio spoke to The Jackson Times soon after.
“It is is a surreal feeling but as I have been saying all along, if we won – and now we have – it’s a good morning in America and in Jackson. Now it is time to rebuild the government, put people first and to get ready to roll up our sleeves and start working,” Shem-Tov said.
“It’s all in God’s timing,” Trombetta added.
Pollak noted, “I am thankful to all the people who helped and supported us. I am extremely happy in this moment but to be honest there is going to be so much work to do. When we wake up tomorrow it’s going to be focused on what we can do for Jackson.”
All three shouted out a collective “Thank you, thank you Jackson.”
Former Mayor Michael Reina stopped by to offer his congratulations to the winners. Reina had been blamed by Kuhn and her allies for many problems in the community. When Kuhn won a seat on the council, she was Reina’s running mate. When asked what he felt about the results of the election he told The Jackson Times, “justice was served.”
Councilman Ken Bressi, who did not seek re-election, also shook hands with Shem-Tov congratulating him and his team on their big win.
Long time resident Elenor Marie Schott-Hannum served as the Fight For Jackson team’s campaign advisor and she was among those celebrating at CeeGees.
During the year, the crowd grew at council meetings and a myriad of issues came before the mayor and council ranging from a delayed municipal budget presentation, land use ordinances, the status of the Rova Farms Park project, an early dismissal of a public comment period as well as an added police presence at council meetings.
Public comments ranged from polite to pointed to angry. And still others were ridiculous. Some outside of the Jackson borders took notice of what was happening and added their own literal spin to the sessions with one speaker reciting a poem while performing a break dance. Another provided a less than complimentary serenade to Kuhn about her recent actions.
By the late summer Kuhn was reporting that she had received inappropriate packages to her home and death threats. Pollak’s car was doused with paint and there were heated exchanges by supporters such as Planning Board Chairman Joseph Sullivan who directed criticism toward Pollak. The councilman countered his accusations during several exchanges.
The next township council meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on November 10 at Town Hall.
