JACKSON, NJ—Jackson Township Council Candidate Hope Drew is running under the banner of “Conservative Common Sense,” but an investigation revealed she is neither conservative nor commonsense.
Drew, a lifelong registered Democrat, according to New Jersey’s election registration record, is not a ‘conservative’ or a ‘Republican’ according to state and county voting records. Records show that she has been a registered Democrat for over ten years. As of August, she did not change her party affiliation to Republican.
Her common sense is being questioned because she has reportedly tapped Tzvi Herman, the former Jackson Township Planning Board chairman who resigned amid allegations of political corruption and bribery, to help her in her political campaign.
Herman served as chairman of the Jackson Planning Board until he was asked to resign over allegations that he solicited bribes from public officials, developers, and township professionals in exchange for favorable outcomes and influence within the board.
Herman is also a Democrat operative who managed the Cinderella-style victory campaign for Rabbi Avi Schnall, a Lakewood resident and New Jersey chairman of Agudath Israel of America, who defeated Republicans for a seat in the New Jersey Assembly last year. Herman is also an editor at the Jackson Pulse. This local community magazine came under fire this year for sharply criticizing Christianity and Christmas celebrations in the community and for pushing a pro-development agenda through editorials.
Township officials refused to comment on the matter, with one elected official saying only, “This matter has been brought to our attention and is pending a possible investigation, and we cannot discuss or comment. Mr. Herman no longer serves on the planning board.”
Herman has also been accused of using his role as editor of the Jackson Pulse to influence support for major developments across Jackson. He is also being sued over an alleged conflict regarding his role in a recent private school application before the planning board.
Drew has not commented on her alleged connection to Herman or Herman’s involvement in her political campaign. However, Shore News Network has confirmed that Herman is lobbying for Drew.
It has also been alleged that Herman is working for Drew because he feels she is ‘workable’, in the sense that if elected, she can be convinced to support Herman’s agenda moving forward. Sources confirmed this week that Herman has been lobbying for a bloc vote support of Drew in the November election, and Drew knows she needs the votes from the community to win in November.
