Hohenleitner Election Still Questioned
“It’s very disappointing that we are all being put through this. We will keep moving forward keeping the community at the center of our work,” said Mayor Lori Hohenleitner today in response to questions concerning the action filed by Councilman James Murphy regarding the election results last November.
Murphy, the lone Republican on the governing body, who was defeated by Hohenleitner for the mayoral post by six votes following a recount last month, then filed action in Superior Court challenging the outcome of the election on the grounds of improper votes in some cases. Murphy questioned the addresses of some voters as well as other matters, according to the Monmouth County Board of Elections. Both Borough Clerk Michele Clark and Monmouth County Clerk Christine Hanlon are named in the litigation.
Hohenleitner and Forbes are being represented by Scott Salmon, with Jardim, Neisner & Susser, P.C who have officers in Tinton Falls and Florham Park. The firm has represented candidates running for political office as well as provided representation to elected officials surrounding political campaigns and the election process.
Hohenleitner noted that borough attorney Marguerite Schaffer is representing Ms. Clark at borough expense, and former borough attorney Jason Sena, who also serves on the Shrewsbury Borough Council and is a special attorney for Atlantic Highlands, is representing County Clerk Hanlon in the matter brought by Murphy.
Hohenleitner and Forbes, who with Crowley were on ActBlue Charities, Inc. for election campaign funds, also have a place on the fundraising platform for donations to raise funds for their attorney in this legal action.
According to Wikipedia, ActBlue Charities Inc. is an American political action committee and fundraising platform established serving left-leaning and Democratic nonprofits and politicians. Its Republican counterpart is WinRed.
Although not identifying it as a Go Fund Me page, the mayor confirmed “we have an Act Blue page for campaign fundraising that is now collecting funds to pay for this frivolous contest.” The mayor continued that the action was “brought against myself and Alyson Forbes by Jimmy Murphy and Ellen O’Dwyer.” Councilman Jon Cowley is not involved, she said, other than as an interested party.
Murphy was not immediately available for a comment for this story.
