JACKSON, NJ – No matter where you look in New Jersey, hundreds of communities like Jackson Township are grappling with overdevelopment, rising taxes, school funding problems, housing shortages, and the fallout from eight years of policies under the administrations of former President Joe Biden and Governor Phil Murphy.
Al Couceiro, a Republican running for council in Jackson Township, says enough is enough and wants to start fighting the problems affecting his town by attacking the root causes of the problems.
Couceiro, a registered Republican who has just officially endorsed Jack Ciattarelli for governor this November, says that instead of fighting each other, Jackson residents must unite to fight all the problems facing Jackson Township at the source, Trenton.
He says many of the problems his town is facing could go away the day after Ciattarelli takes office, including school funding, affordable housing mandates, and sanctuary state policies that are causing a housing and rental crisis in Jackson and many other towns across the state.
This week, Republican State Senator Owen Henry; Assemblymen Robert Clifton and Alex Sauickie; and Ocean County Commissioner Frank Sadeghi each expressed their first impressions of Couceiro’s campaign and his vision for addressing the community’s challenges.
Couceiro, a lifelong firefighter and head of the Jackson Volunteer EMS, told the visiting officials that his campaign is focused on strengthening cooperation between Jackson, Ocean County, and the state legislature. He said he believes working alongside Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli is essential to reversing what he described as harmful policies coming from Trenton.
“The state of New Jersey has pitted Jackson residents against each other, and my opponent is feeding into that and exploiting it for political gains, the truth is, he’s a New York City liberal whose views appear to be more in line with Mikie Sherrill than Jack Ciattarelli,” Couceiro said, pointing to affordable housing mandates, sanctuary state policies, offshore wind projects, and school funding formulas. He argued those policies under Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration have driven up costs, closed schools, and deepened community divides.
“I’m going to fight for Jackson as I have for my entire life,” he said. “But I’m going to fight the real problems, the failed policies killing our town that come out of Trenton.”
“We must stop fighting each other and stop listening to people who only seek to capitalize on failed policies for political gain. We need to stop listening to people who want to get into office, even if it means tearing our community apart by making everyone fight each other in town,” Couceiro added. “We must unite behind Jack Ciattarelli on election day, or nothing will change at all in Jackson.”
“The state of New Jersey has pitted Jackson residents against each other. Bad policies by Phil Murphy and his administration are destroying Jackson, whether it’s affordable housing mandates, sanctuary state policies, high energy prices through failed offshore wind projects, or flawed school funding that forced our school board to close and sell two schools,” Couceiero said. “We must stop fighting each other, and we must stop listening to people who only seek to capitalize on Phil Murphy’s failed policies and political retribution. They are tearing us apart, pitting neighbor against neighbor for political gain. I told the state and county officials that I will not only work with them to fix these problems at the source, Trenton, but we must all unite behind Jack Ciattarelli on election day, or nothing will change at all in Jackson no matter who wins. Mikie Sherrill will give us 8 more years of the same failed Phil Murphy Agegenda.”
-Al Couceiro
Commissioner Sadeghi echoed that sentiment after meeting Couceiro for the first time. “What jumps out is Al’s commitment and passion to make Jackson Township a better community for all its residents,” Sadeghi said. “His involvement in so many community organizations is very telling about his priorities and his calling to serve the people of this town. He seems excited and willing to jump in with both feet and do the work.”
“I met Al Couceiro at Jacknon day Picnic for the first time. Very impressive young man. What jumps out is Al’s commitment and passion to make Jackson Township a better community for all it’s residents. Al told me about all the community organizations he belongs to and that in it’s own is very telling about this individual’s priorities and his calling to serve the people of this town. Al seems excited and willing to jump in with both feet and do the work of the people. Very impressive “
-Ocean County Republican Commissioner Frank Sadeghi
“My opponent believes that the same divisive Democrat-led rhetoric that has divided our entire country is Jackson’s path forward. More division. More hate. More anger. He thinks we should be getting up in their faces while they’re at dinner, shaming the other side,” Couceiro said. “It didn’t work for the Democrat party and that’s not going to save Jackson. He can shake his fists all he wants at his new neighbors here in Jackson, but people like Chris Pollak, AOC, Maxine Watters, Chuck Schumer, Mikie Sherrill, Cory Booker, and Phil Murphy are the ones who choose to use division to force people’s hands. He doesn’t realize that for government to truly work for the people, they need to deliver for the people, not fight with the people.”
The Jackson Township Council race is getting heated and while his opponent is seeking to divide and conquer the election, Couceiro says he will stay above the fray and focus on fixing the problems at the source. He is encouraging all Jackson residents to reach out to him to see how they can be part of turning the tide, not only in Jackson, but across New Jersey.
“Only together can we save Jackson,” he added. “Together we must vote Republican Column A, and vote for me, Al Couceiro, and the entire Republican ticket under Jack Ciattarelli on Election Day.”
