JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – Jackson Township Council President Marty Flemming is running for mayor in November and along the campaign trail, has pledged to stop overdevelopment in Jackson.
Days after meeting with Mordechai Eichorn at a private fundraiser at a golf course owned by Eichorn, Flemming is backing off his pledge to stop overdevelopment. Eichorn is the developer behind Jackson Trails and two building applications to build a total of seven schools on Leesville Road.
One of the six major campaign pledges by Flemming and his team, to stop high-density housing mandates and stop overdevelopment, was challenged by Jackson resident Richard Egan at Tuesday night’s council meeting.
“Mr. Flemming, you say as mayor, you’re going to stop overdevelopment and high density housing,” Egan asked Flemming during the public comment portion of the meeting. “By what legal authority are you going to do that?”
“First of all, I didn’t say that,” Flemming snapped at Egan.
You can watch the video of the exchange at the bottom of this article.
“You said it in your campaign ad,” Egan responded, mentioning Flemming’s campaign website and multiple flyers mailed to voters in recent weeks where Flemming pledged to stop overdevelopment in Jackson.
“This is not a political forum,” Flemming responded. “If you’d like to talk to me afterward, then we’ll do it. We’re not doing politics here.”
“I’m not talking politics,” Egan responded. “I’m allowed to speak on any topic..I’m asking you how are you going to stop housing?”
“We’re not going to discuss it here,” Flemming.
“Well, you’ve already answered it, thank you,” Egan replied.
“You got it, Flemming said,” then Councilman Andrew Kern, a running mate of Flemming in the election motioned to close the public comment of the meeting.
Flemming’s actions have turned in an odd direction since last Monday when he mysteriously recused himself from an application to build three more private schools on Leesville Road. Flemming, it turns out met with Eichorn this past spring privately and offered the builder instead to build a high density housing project on the site.
On Wednesday, Flemming and his team hosted a fundraiser at the Pine Barrens Golf Club, also owned by Eichorn. Guests paid $300 each to attend. Eichorn was joined at Flemming’s fundraiser by Mordechai Burnstein, head of the Jackson Eruv Association and a leader of the Jackson Jewish Community Council (aka Jackson VAAD).
Flemming’s team has not responded to requests for comment regarding the fundraiser with the high-profile Lakewood developer.
Today, Mayor Michael Reina reiterated that he wasn’t even invited to the fundraiser but did say Flemming was out of line to shut down a member of the public asking legitimate questions at a public meeting, saying he wasn’t going to comment on an event he had nothing to do with and wasn’t at.
“The resident’s question was not about politics,” Reina said. “It was about township business and the future of Jackson, and he should have answered the question and told the residents of Jackson what his plan is since he’s a sitting councilman. The only politics going on in that exchange was from Flemming. The town would like to know how he’s going to stop overdevelopment and what his plan is.”
Overdevelopment has been a major concern for residents in this election cycle, with most residents in a recent poll citing it as their number one concern in the township.
Eichorn and Burnstein both declined to answer questions about Flemming’s campaign.
Last week, Eichorn did confirm that he attended the fundraiser held by the Flemming team, but would not speak about the conversations he had with Flemming during that fundraiser.
Burnstein said he was in attendance after being invited by Flemming as both serve on the Jackson Planning Board together.
“I was there to meet the candidates and see what their platform was,” Burnstein said, adding that the Jewish bloc vote is still up for grabs in November despite rumors that the community is backing Reina. “We haven’t made a final decision on it.”