Jackson officials say pr firm will help put a positive spin on the town during election year

Jackson Officials Say PR Firm Will Help Put a Positive Spin on the Town During Election Year

Posted by
1 min read
March 25, 2022

JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – Jackson Township officials said they interviewed several different firms before awarding a no-bid contract to Brand Strategic Communications for public image and relations consulting. That contract, according to state law must remain under $40,000 annually. A cap was approved by the council at $60,000 annually.

This week, the township council was questioned over the need for such a service, especially during an election year of Mayor Michael Reina and Councilmen Andy Kern and Alex Sauickie.

“We want to put the township in a good light for people to see,” said Councilman Marty Flemming. “We’ve had many litigations at the town level and it would be nice to put a positive spin on the town.”

Dr. Sheldon Hoffstein noted that in addition to improving the reputation of the town, the public relations firm would also be improving the image of the township’s elected officials.

“People who are coming up for re-election if they wanted to run,” Hoffstein said. “You just don’t want to create the perception that public tax dollars are being used for part of their campaign.”

Flemming said, “It’s more important to put the town in a positive light to attract more business and stabilize our taxes.”

“I just think as you get closer to the election, there should be no perception by the people that you’re pumping yourself up,” Hoffstein said.

Hoffstein said the firm’s services should be suspended during ‘election season’ and that if candidates need a pr firm for their election, they can pay for it with their own campaign dollars.

“The town hasn’t had a good mechanism to respond against propaganda,” Alex Sauickie said.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version