The old days of reverse-lit drops – the practice of removing opposition flyers from homes before they’ve been seen – have become exponentially more dangerous in the days of video doorbells that record what happens on the front stoops of private residences.
In Rochelle Park, a candidate for township committee in Tuesday’s election learned that lesson when he removed his opponent’s literature while going door to door in the small Bergen County town on Thursday evening.
Jorge Martinez, Jr. sorrowfully took full responsibility for his bad behavior in a telephone interview with the New Jersey Globe on Saturday. He cited the pressures of a tough campaign and attacks against him by his opponent, incumbent Perrin Mosca.
“I saw one of (Mosca’s) flyers hanging outside the mailbox. I did an impulsive action and a stupid thing,” Martinez said. “It was a mistake. I did it and regret it.”
Martinez said he returned to the home this morning, apologized, and returned the flyer.
Martinez and Theresa Judge Cravello face Republicans Perrin Mosca and Jennifer Appice and independents Robert Davidson and Joseph Scarpa III in the November 7 election.
This year’s election includes a toxic split between local Republicans. GOP Municipal Chairman Frank Valenzuela withdrew his support of Mosca for calling some of his colleagues “not good Catholics” for supporting the raising of a rainbow flag during Pride Month.
The township committee voted 4-0 to pull the mayoralty from Mosca – Democrat Linda Boniface joined three Republicans; Appice became the new mayor.
The infighting among Republicans could result in Democratic control after the November election. Republicans have a 4-1 majority on the township committee, but three of their seats are on the ballot this year. Scarpa is a former Republican mayor and longtime officeholder; Davidson runs the local Chamber of Commerce.
In a special election for an unexpired term, Republican Robert Marut is up against Democrat Thomas Miller.