Mayor Randy Brown argued Democrats’ victory in local races had less to do with local issues, and more to do with voters’ anger at Washington D.C.
“If any of you out there think my mouth is going to be shut, you got another damn thing coming to you.”
Those were the words of Mayor Randy Brown as he spent about 10 minutes at the conclusion of this week’s Evesham Township Council meeting once again speaking about the victory Evesham’s Democrats saw in this year’s mayoral election and the race for two seats on council.
This week’s meeting marked the first council meeting since this year’s election on Nov. 6.
Come January, the township will have a Democratic majority control council for the first time since the township approved moving municipal elections from the spring to November in 2009, which caused municipal elections to become partisan contests.
Out of nearly 21,000 votes cast in the race for mayor, Democrat Jaclyn Veasy won over incumbent Republican Councilman Steve Zeuli by about 800 votes.
Democrat Heather Cooper and Democrat Patricia Hansen also won their council races by slightly larger margins over incumbent Republican Deputy Mayor Deb Hackman and Republican Jay Levenson.
Brown was not on the ballot this year, as he announced in September he would not be running for re-election after 12 years of serving on council due to professional opportunities that had become available to him in the coming years.
However, similar to comments Brown made to The Sun the day after the election, Brown used this week’s meeting to argue that Democrats’ victory in local races had less to do with local issues, and more to do with voters’ anger at President Donald Trump and incumbent Republican Rep. Tom MacArthur (NJ-3).
MacArthur helped advance legislation in the U.S. House (which was ultimately defeated in the U.S. Senate) that would have allowed states to waive a requirement in the Affordable Care Act that prohibits insurance companies from using pre-existing conditions to charge consumers higher prices for health insurance premiums.
MacArthur was also the sole congressional representative from New Jersey, Democrat or Republican, to vote for the federal income tax overhaul that put a $10,000 federal cap on the SALT (state and local tax) deduction used by many residents in New Jersey.
While Brown said he knew all three of this year’s local Democratic candidates personally and said they were “wonderful people” to whom he wished the best of luck, he ultimately described this year’s election as a “travesty” on the local level.
Often raising his voice, Brown continued to list what he considered the accomplishments of he and his fellow local Republicans, pointing to millions of dollars the township has in surplus, hundreds of millions of dollars in business reinvestments, well-attended township events, new athletic fields and more.
“We’ve made differences in the lives of people that will be unmatched for years, but … residents said it was more important to be ticked off at Washington, D.C., and take it out on the team that has brought all of this great success to Evesham Township,” Brown said. “Good government should be rewarded.”
Brown said he was also worried about the township’s “amazing employees” and hoped they were given the “respect they deserve” in the future.
In response to Brown’s comments at this week’s meeting, Evesham Township Democratic Committee Chair Phil Warren said Brown’s words were “unfortunate” as they would create further divisions now, and when he is out of office.
Rather than pointing to voters’ sentiments toward Trump or MacArthur, Warren said Evesham’s voters made an “informed decision” at the polls and selected leaders who would change the tone of township council meetings, such as that of this week’s meeting.
“Ironically, despite blaming President Trump and Congressman MacArthur for the loss, Mayor Brown might actually be the single biggest reason his candidates lost,” Warren said. “He has spent years being less tolerant and more focused on self-promotion, propaganda, and divisive rhetoric.”
Warren said Brown’s late withdrawal from this year’s mayoral race also set back Republican candidates at a critical time, and Warren criticized Republicans for spending money on negative advertisements instead of promoting a positive message.
“Instead of trying to drag the Democratic candidates down, he (Brown) could have focused on their (Republicans) record and all of the things he said, during his rant at the council meeting, that were great about the town,” Warren said. “He squandered an opportunity to cement his legacy and continue the agenda he had. Mayor Brown showed that he has, in fact, learned very little about politics and adapting to different political environments after 10 years in office.”
In a release sent out in the days after the Democrats’ victory, Warren also spoke about the Democratic campaign running “great candidates.”
Warren described Veasy as a lifelong resident who loves the township more than anybody he had ever met, while he described Hansen and Cooper as strong, independent voices who wish to contribute to the community.
Veasy works as a senior claims adjuster at a national insurance company, Cooper works as a resource and development director for a nonprofit, and Hansen is a retired human resources assignment specialist for Amtrak.
“They worked hard to get here, knocking on over 4,000 doors with nearly 30 dedicated volunteers, making phone calls, building support, and delivered a positive vision from day one of their joint campaign,” Warren said.
Along with reaching more than 5,500 residents at more than 4,000 doors, Warren said this year’s Democratic campaign raised an “unprecedented amount of funds” and received local union support.
“There was no way that we would ever be able to buy as many ads and mailers as they (Republicans) did, but we persevered with a truly grassroots operation that was originally running on shoestrings and sweat,” Warren said.
Zeuli and Hackman also used this week’s meeting to comment on the election, with each thanking their supporters and noting they would continue to work for all residents during their remaining days in office until January.
“I’m going to continue to work hard for all of you, whether you voted for me or not, because I love this town, and that’s the reason why I’m up here and that’s the reason why I wanted to be your mayor,” Zeuli said.
The next meeting of the Evesham Township Council is set for Dec. 4.
