JACKSON, NJ – Jackson Township incumbent Republican Mayor Michael Reina has secured critical Republican party endorsements during a fierce campaign putting local Republicans against each other. Today, Reina secured the endorsement of us congressman Chris Smith.
Smith’s endorsement comes after Reina secured verbal endorsements from county GOP officials. Multiple sources within the Ocean County Republican organization have confirmed that the Ocean County Board of Commissioners, Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy, and other local mayors I have signaled in private that they will endorse Reina, but out of fear of retribution from Commissioner Virginia Haines will not make a public endorsement at this time.
Haines, who is the clear decision-maker in county politics, has a longtime friendship with delicatessen owner Clara Glory who is orchestrating the campaign for Reina’s opponent Marty Flemming behind the scenes.
Congressman Smith is the first Republican elected official to come out from beneath Haine’s umbrella to make a public endorsement. Smith and Reina have been political allies for many years.
“Mayor Reina will keep holding the line on taxes, advocating for our veterans, and working hard to protect the quality of life in Jackson Township,” Smith said.
Reina thanked the long-term Congressman for his public endorsement.
Republican insiders have claimed that elected officials, professionals, and engineers have all received veiled threats by operatives of the Flemming campaign in the event that they publicly support Reina or donate to his political campaign.
According to Ocean County officials, Haines rules the county administration with an iron fist.
Last week a supporter of Flemming made a death threat on social media, posting a photo of a noose with the caption, “Mike needs a new necklace.”
Last week Reina’s adult daughter was spit on and called a c–t by a passing truck driver.
Reina today said he would not let the threats scare him out of running.
“This year, things have gotten worse than ever before. I’ve been doing this for 14 years, and the personal attacks are getting worse,” Reina said.
Reina appeared on NJ 101.5 Monday morning to speak with conservative media host Bill Spadea. Reina has also not yet received the official endorsement from the Ocean County GOP or Chairman George Gilmore.
“I’ve never seen the amount of animosity and nasty stuff coming our way,” Reina said. “It’s people lashing out because they’re just not happy with what’s going on out there. I feel bad for them.”
“We’ve had a lot of changes in Jackson,” Reina said. “My opponents are using redevelopment as a tactic, and redevelopment is going on everywhere. Demographics are changing everywhere. It’s poor politics and bad medicine that grows animosity.”
County officials have yet to chime in on the attacks against Reina by Flemming’s supporters. Haines did not respond for request for comment.