Washington Township Committee deliberates on replacement for Rep. Jack Mozloom.
By: Cynthia Koons
WASHINGTON No matter who is selected to fill the empty seat left by Republican Jack Mozloom on the Washington Township Committee, someone will be dissatisfied.
With some members of the Republican Municipal Committee requesting a revote and Township Committeeman Dave Fried insisting a private meeting held prior to the selection of potential successors was unethical, everyone thinks someone is politically incorrect.
Last week, it was brought to the public’s attention that Mayor Doug Tindall met with Republican Municipal Committee Chairman Dominic Magnolo about the potential candidates to fill Mr. Mozloom’s seat.
Mr. Mozloom resigned June 25, saying he and his wife had decided to move out of Washington Township because of the rising taxes. He left both a vacancy on the Township Committee until the end of the year and an empty spot on the Republican ballot in the November election for Township Committee.
The 14-member Republican Municipal Committee was charged with interviewing candidates and selecting three to present to the Township Committee, which is expected to make its decision tonight (Thursday) after conducting a public interview.
The names of the three candidates Peter Chamberlin, Thomas Harris and Kathleen Goodwine were put before the Township Committee last week. But some believe that one candidate, former committeeman and mayor Ed Nelson, was overlooked.
Mr. Chamberlin is a 20-year resident of the township and president of the Washington Township Business Association. Mr. Harris is vice chairman of the township’s Planning Board and has lived in the township for 32 years. A substitute teacher, Ms. Goodwine has served on the township’s zoning board for 10 years. Mr. Nelson served as township mayor in 1993.
His wife, Mary Ellen Nelson, wrote a letter to Mr. Magnolo requesting the Republican Committee reconvene to vote again on the candidates in light of the allegations looming over the process.
But Mr. Magnolo said a revote is impossible because state law only allows a certain time period for the township’s Republican Committee to select its three candidates for the Township Committee.
"The problem with the letter was there was no private meeting held to choose candidates," Mr. Magnolo said. "As Republican chair, (my) job is to recruit candidates and organize the local party. It’s absurd to argue that a Republican municipal chairman should not talk to elected officials about local politics."
Mr. Magnolo and Mayor Tindall both admitted to meeting at the mayor’s house earlier this month to discuss potential candidates.
Mr. Fried, a Republican, said it wasn’t just the meeting that angered him, but the fact that it was held prior to Mr. Mozloom’s resignation and that certain candidates were urged to apply for the position.
Mr. Magnolo said the meeting was held on the Monday following Mr. Mozloom’s resignation and that he did not call candidates to ask them to run for the seat.
Even if they were asked to apply, he said, that would not be an infringement of the party committee’s ethics.
"The five candidates that did apply responded to the press release," Mr. Magnolo said. "I talked to one or two other people. One was actually recommended by Mr. Fried."
Mr. Chamberlin said he was, in fact, asked to run for the seat. He said he does not believe the actions of the party committee were intentionally secretive or clandestine.
"I think it was a pretty open process," he said. "I didn’t see any behind-closed-door proceedings going on."
Deputy Mayor Cathy St. John, who will be a running mate for the candidate selected to fill Mr. Mozloom’s term, said she believes Mr. Nelson deserves an interview before the committee.
"At a minimum, he should have been one of the three whose names were forwarded to us," she said. "While the (Township Committee) can’t ask the (GOP) municipal committee to have a revote, we certainly can suggest that."
Mr. Nelson said some issues of credibility have been raised, about both the private conversations and the timing of the meetings.
"What I think is, based on the information that we have, it might make sense for the committee to have another vote," he said.
Mr. Magnolo said the deadline for selecting the three candidates they endorsed was July 11. The letter from Ms. Nelson was dated July 12. Both Mr. and Ms. Nelson are members of the Republican Municipal Committee.
"There may have been some actions taken by some members . . . that may have influenced the (selection of these candidates)," the letter said. Mr. Magnolo refuted these allegations.
"Even if (the letter) was written before the deadline, there was no substance to Mr. Fried’s assertions," he said. "There’s no need for a revote. It’s a silly request."
Mr. Fried’s other request, that Mr. Tindall recuse himself from the vote on Thursday, also will be denied.
Township Attorney Peter Sheridan submitted a confidential opinion on the matter to the Township Committee. Mr. Tindall has since said that he will "absolutely" vote on the replacement for Mr. Mozloom.
"(Mr. Fried’s) desire to have (me) removed from voting is really a slap on the wrist to the residents of the township they elected Dave and myself," Mayor Tindall said.
"There are three great candidates. The focus should be on the candidates," Mayor Tindall said.
Mr. Fried, who also expressed support for Mr. Nelson, said he still believes the mayor should recuse himself from the vote.
"Mr. Tindall has to (follow) his conscience," he said. "He’s made it clear where his loyalties lie . . . I felt that my allegiance when I was mayor was to the committee and the community before my friends."