JACKSON – The township has a new mayor: Jennifer Kuhn was appointed at this morning’s meeting.
Michael Reina resigned after nearly 18 years as mayor on September 23. The expiration of his term would have been December 31, 2026.
Speculation regarding his replacement ranged from Council President Jennifer Kuhn, Vice Council President Mordechai Burnstein and Councilman Ken Bressi given his past experience and that he once ran against Reina for mayor.
Reina served as mayor from November 2008 until the end of September. His resignation came after a deadline that would have allowed a special mayoral race to be added to the November ballot.
Kuhn was chosen through a majority vote resolution at a special meeting held at 10:30 a.m. on October 3 at the township municipal building. Burnstein, who moved up to her position as Council President, told The Jackson Times that the unusual time was due to the availability of members of council. The Friday morning session was determined to have been the best time to reach a quorum.
During a prior council meeting, Township Attorney Gregory McGuckin explained the state statute involving the transition of power. “The governing body, in this case the council president, becomes acting mayor the moment the resignation takes effect so that will be October 1. Under the statute the governing body then has 30 days to select a mayor for the balance of his term and that is why they scheduled a meeting on October 3.”
With Kuhn serving as interim mayor and serving the balance of Reina’s unexpired term, the council also had to select a new vice council president. This means a council vacancy now exists on the dais. That vacancy would also have to be filled.
Meanwhile, two candidates are vying for the unexpired council seat of Scott Sargent who died in May. Bressi was chosen to fill that vacancy but he opted not to run for the spot in the general election on November 4. Political newcomers Chris Pollak and Al Couceiro are candidates in that race.
Reina’s resignation letter stated, “I have greatly appreciated the opportunity to serve the people of Jackson and be a part of such a supportive and dynamic administration over the last 17 plus years.”
He told The Jackson Times “It was time.”
