JACKSON – Two political newcomers, Chris Pollak and Alfred Couceiro sought one council seat on the township council in the November 4 general election and when the unofficial vote tally came in, it was won at 61.84% by Pollak with 12,845 votes, besting Couceiro with 37.6% and 7,823 votes.
The vacant seat was originally occupied by Councilman Scott Sargent whose term would have ended on December 31, 2026. Sargent died in May following heart surgery and his spot on the council was filled by former Councilman Kenneth Bressi who did not run for the position although in a bit of political musical chairs, Bressi was recently named to fill the vacant seat of Jennifer Kuhn who was appointed as mayor after Mayor Michael Reina’s recent resignation.
Pollak described himself in a candidate profile article of The Jackson Times as “a father, husband, and concerned resident of Jackson. I’m 41 years old and I have lived in Jackson for about seven years. By trade, I’m a building maintenance unit mechanic, and I also own and operate a martial arts school in town.”
He told The Jackson Times after the results were in that “I think this is a mandate of the people who want change. I want to fight for all the people and I intend to bring that.”
Pollak said “I am happy with the big margin of votes.” He said he has been a Republican and right leaning but that he didn’t really trust either party. “I want to do what is right for the people.”
He expressed that he was not treated fairly by his opponents in the campaign, noting campaign material in the form of a newspaper and social media attacks. He said he feels there is a lot of corruption within the governing body.
“It is a joke; they don’t want a dissenting voice on council. They want complete control but we need somebody different. Democracy is not only people with the same ideology. I just want to do the right thing,” Pollak added.
He previously told The Jackson Times that “over the years, I’ve managed businesses, trained and mentored students, and led a chapter of the Guardian Angels, a volunteer organization dedicated to community safety and service. I’ve been a fighter both in and out of the ring, and that fighting spirit carries into my approach to life and politics. I’m ready to fight for what’s right, stand up to the establishment, and serve the people of Jackson.”
Pollak said he did not run for office “because I want to be a politician.” He said he ran because “I have to fight back against the people selling out our town. Like so many other residents, I’m concerned about the future of Jackson. Most people are not happy with the direction our town is headed in.”
“Too often, I see decisions being made for the benefit of special interests instead of the people who actually live here. I believe we need real voices and everyday people that are willing to step up and fight for the community,” Pollak added.
During prior Township Council meetings, Pollak has criticized Mayor Jennifer Kuhn and Council President Mordechai Burnstein, saying they had a conflict of interest by voting on certain ordinances pertaining to development within the township. Both officials have denied that accusation.
