TOMS RIVER, NJ – Just days after Toms River Democrats were ready to push Rhetta Jackson-Faire into the mayoral ballot position in November, the party is scrambling once again to find a challenger to Republican nominee Dan Rodrick.
Time is running out. Democrats have just ten days to lock in their final answer.
This weekend, ultra-progressive liberal Andy Kim staffer Ben Giovine began exploring his options for mayor in Toms River as Democrats are concerned about Jackson-Faire’s comments against homosexuals on social media.
If she won in November, Faire would have been the town’s first-ever African-American mayor, if she could withstand public pressure regarding her anti-homosexual stance.
“Don’t condone what God condemns,” she said about homosexuality and the LGBTQ+ community. “Stop lying [to children] that is ok to being gay and God made them that way.”
Democrat Chairman Wyatt Earp is struggling to figure out which if any, candidate in the party’s Toms River pool can run for office. Earp has been on an endless search, trying to stop Rodrick from becoming the next mayor of Toms River.
Not running a candidate against Rodrick is not an option for Earp who could be the next Democrat voted out of office when his chairmanship expires.
A controversial Facebook post from 2016 by Democrat council candidate Rhetta Jackson-Faire has surfaced, potentially complicating the party’s efforts to win seats in the upcoming November general election in Toms River.
In the post, Jackson-Faire made remarks against the LGBTQ+ community, stating that homosexuals are “offending god” and encouraging condemnation of LGBTQ+ individuals. She referred to homosexuality as a “generational curse.”
The revelation comes when Toms River Democrats are already dealing with challenges, including doubts about mayoral candidate John Furey’s readiness to face Republican Councilman Daniel Rodrick in November.
Jackson-Faire’s comments are likely to create a divide among progressive Democrats and could hinder the party’s ability to secure crucial votes in the election. The post has drawn attention and criticism, putting the Democratic party in a position to address these remarks as they attempt to build momentum for the upcoming election.
After Furey’s departure, Democrats courted Lakewood banker John Crisafulli. After Chrisafulli declined the offer, Democrats switched to Jackson-Faire, before pivoting once again to Giovine this weekend.
Reportedly, former Councilman Terrance Turnbach, a criminal defense attorney, and Jonathan Petro, who lost against Mo Hill in 2019, also declined the party’s invitation to run against Rodrick.
Faire is still running as a council candidate as an unlikely running mate to Giovine, who is ultra-progressive who works for Congressman Andy Kim, a key sponsor of the 2021 Equality Act.
“Equal rights should never be in question for our LGBTQ community, but for far too long they’ve been denied,” said Congressman Kim. “This bill isn’t just about recognizing equality for LGBTQ Americans; it’s about ensuring that their lives and livelihoods are protected with the same strict standard as every other American. We came close to passing this bill into law last Congress; now it’s up to us to get it over the finish line.”