JACKSON, NJ – In June, Jackson Township Council President Marty Flemming resigned his post as the president of the five-member body and signaled that he would soon be resigning his council seat altogether.
Three months later, Flemming has still not officially resigned his post after he sold his home and Lakehurst business.
“It’s time for a change,” Flemming said in an interview with the Asbury Park Press in June. “We’re working through (moving) right now.”
Flemming and his team lost the 2022 mayoral election to incumbent Mayor Michael Reina and since that time had expressed his desire to ‘sell everything’ and leave town.
A crucial election deadline passed this past week that would have triggered a special election to replace Flemming on the council should he resign.
September 4th was the official deadline for candidates and elections to be placed on the 2023 ballots.
Had Flemming resigned prior to that date, his resignation would have triggered a special election to fill the remainder of his term which expires on December 31, 2024.
Now, if Flemming resigns, his replacement would be decided by the remaining four members of the council. That council is split politically 2-2 between allegiances to Reina and those aligned with Flemming and former political operative Clara Glory.
In the event of a tie, the deciding vote would be cast by Mayor Reina. Reina however cannot officially pick a candidate, that’s the council’s job to nominate candidates for consideration, technically.
Once the council votes on the candidate, their vote is final if it’s not a tie. The mayor would not carry a vote in that case.
At this time, Flemming has not made any official statements as to when he will officially resign his position.
Detractors of Flemming say he should do it sooner than later as he has already sold his primary residence and has essentially tapped out of Jackson, at least financially.