BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer
The results of last week’s Long Branch municipal election are being challenged by mayoral candidate Alfie Lenkiewicz, who is claiming that a fraudulent letter may have affected voter turnout.
On May 8, just one day before the election, a letter bearing Lenkiewicz’ forged signature was reportedly received in the mail by a number of city residents. The letter claimed the first-time political candidate had dropped out of the mayoral race, according to Lenkiewicz’s campaign treasurer, Scott Kelly.
“This letter did not come from Lenkiewicz or from anyone on [Lenkiewicz’s council candidate slate] The New Wave Team,” Kelly said. “The question is whether this letter swayed someone to stay home and not vote because they believed Alfie had dropped out.”
Lenkiewicz lost the election by a margin of just over 500 votes to Mayor Adam Schneider who was re-elected to serve his fifth term as mayor of the city along with his team of council candidates, The Schneider Team.
Schneider said in an interview Tuesday that he has not seen the letter and only knows about its contents through articles he has read in the newspapers.
He added that The Schneider Team and their campaign officials did not produce the letter and do not know who composed it.
Representatives of The New Wave Team met with officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and a representative from the FBI on Monday to report the allegations.
Michael Drewniak, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark, confirmed that a meeting was scheduled but said, “When they come to us to make a report, it does not mean we are investigating it.”
According to Kelly, supporters/members of The New Wave Team are also in the process of filing a complaint with the county Board of Elections and have contacted the federal Election Law Enforcement Commission.
Kelly added that they are also trying to schedule an appointment with the N.J. Attorney General’s Office.
In addition, a police report of the fraudulent letter has been filed with the Long Branch Police Department.
Lenkiewicz’ camp has also offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the letter and has hired a private investigator to “thoroughly look into all aspects” of the allegations, according to a press release from The New Wave Team.
The New Wave Team is also claiming that Schneider supporters working at the polls on election day were “directing voters to not vote for Alfie,” Kelly said.
According to the press release, “It is believed the Schneider Team poll workers used unethical and intimidating tactics on the day of the election.
“We were advised that at the polling place in District 13, a Schneider team challenger and poll worker told voters not to vote for Mr. Lenkiewicz because he had dropped out of the race,” the release states.
“Other witnesses stated that Schneider poll workers told voters not to vote for Mr. Lenkiewicz because he is a racist and wants to run the “blacks out of town,” the release states.
Schneider said those allegations are untrue and “ridiculous.”
The New Wave Team contends that the “unscrupulous attacks had a significant effect on the voter turnout and damaged the Lenkiewicz and The New Wave Team’s campaign.”
According to the press release, the New Wave Team’s campaign polling “indicated a much higher percentage of votes than was actually received” and Kelly said The New Wave Team is not seeking a recount, but added that if the allegations are proven true, The New Wave Team will “want another election.”
“We have not heard anyone saying the machines weren’t working, so the votes are what they are,” Kelly said. “What we are looking into is another election.”
Kelly explained that if the investigation concludes that the letter derived from a person unaffiliated with any of the other election candidates, The New Wave Team will have to prove damages.
“We will have to show that the letter affected a number of people to not vote or to vote in another direction,” Kelly said.
But if it is found that the letter came from the mayoral or council candidates, Kelly said The New Wave Team may not have to show damages.
“We would like to just get to the bottom of this,” Kelly said. “At this time we do not know who sent the letter. This is something serious though and there could possibly be criminal ramifications.”
The New Wave Team is estimating that approximately 1,500 letters were mailed to city residents.
A portion of the letter purportedly written by Lenkiewicz states, “There are past actions which may come to light soon after the election that would keep me from honorably being able to serve as your mayor. Although these charges are 100 percent false, they would distract me from carrying out the duties and responsibilities of mayor until they are cleared by … my legal representative.”
The letter continues, “There are other allegations that may come out as well about one of our New Wave council candidates that may prove to be embarrassing, but again, these are just that – allegations perpetrated by a political attack machine.”
The letter then advises voters to cast their votes for mayoral challenger Kevin Brown who received 189 votes on election day and council candidate Thomas Anzalone, who received 409 votes.
Brown denied having any part in the letter at the May 11 council meeting and said, “Someone without my permission, consent or knowledge sent out a letter forging a candidate’s name.
“If it is found out that it is one of you,” Brown said to the council at the meeting, “I expect you to resign immediately.”