JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – Dozens of political signs for council candidate Al Couceiro were found torn down, defaced, or tossed aside overnight, intensifying tensions just days before voters head to the polls in this year’s Jackson Township council election.
Couceiro, a longtime firefighter and head of the township’s emergency medical services, said at least 50 of his campaign signs had been damaged or removed across Jackson.
The vandalism comes as the local race grows increasingly heated in its final stretch.
Key Points
- More than 50 campaign signs for Al Couceiro were reportedly damaged or removed overnight
- The alleged vandalism follows a string of tense exchanges in the Jackson Township council race
- Couceiro urged residents to restore civility and respect in local politics
Accusations fly as campaign tensions mount
Couceiro supporters allege that his opponent, Chris Pollak, his campaign manager Elliott Shem Tov and members of Pollak’s campaign may have been involved in the sign tampering, though no official complaints or charges have been confirmed by authorities.
Pollak, a well-known retired cosplaying NYC superhero vigilante, has posted a series of videos online in recent days showing visible frustration as Election Day approaches. Some of those videos appear to show a candidate losing his sanity as the pressures of a tense election mount.
In one video, Pollak shows himself violently punching a punching bag, and another, released today, shows the seemingly unhinged candidate storming angrily into town hall.
Coucerio calls for calm and respect
In a public statement, Couceiro condemned the destruction of signs from both campaigns, saying it reflects poorly on the township. “We can—and should—be better than this,” he said, urging residents and campaign teams alike to “restore civility and integrity” to the election process.