June 11, 2025

In a dramatic and defining night across New Jersey, voters delivered decisive outcomes in multiple hotly contested primaries on Tuesday, setting the stage for an explosive general election this November. From the governor’s race to key state legislative contests, the results signal shifting alliances, emerging power blocs, and a growing backlash against entrenched political machines.

🗳️ Governor’s Race: Sherrill vs. Ciattarelli Set for November Clash

Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill sailed to victory in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, defeating a crowded field of contenders in a race that drew record turnout. Her win cements her place as the Democratic standard-bearer heading into November, where she will face former GOP nominee Jack Ciattarelli, who also easily secured the Republican nomination.

Though official numbers were not available at press time, early reports indicated Sherrill captured over 35% of the vote statewide, with Ciattarelli claiming more than 65% on the Republican side. The two will now square off in a general election that could determine the future of New Jersey’s approach to taxes, affordability, public safety, and education.

👮‍♂️ Hudson County Sheriff: Davis Ousts Longtime Incumbent Schillari

In what is being described as a political earthquake, Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis declared victory over six-term Sheriff Frank Schillari in the Democratic primary for Hudson County Sheriff. Backed by a coalition of law enforcement unions and county Democrats, Davis overcame significant establishment opposition, including endorsements for Schillari from the Jersey City Education Association and several mayors.

With a Republican opposition in November, Davis is expected to win and assume office in January, marking a significant power shift in county law enforcement leadership.

🏛️ LD-32: Bhalla and Brennan Claim Reform Victory in Tight Race

In the Democratic primary for Legislative District 32, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla and former state official Katie Brennan declared victory as the top two vote-getters, defeating a slate backed by the Hudson County Democratic Organization. Early counts (with approximately 66% of precincts reporting) showed Brennan leading with 5,575 votes and Bhalla closely behind at 5,409, edging out incumbent Jessica Ramirez (5,242), and rivals Jennie Pu, Crystal Fonseca, and Yousef Saleh.

Bhalla and Brennan framed their victory as a repudiation of political machines, celebrating their grassroots campaign and pledging to fight for affordability, housing, and transparency in Trenton. They are the only candidates who have defeated the endorsed candidates of the Hudson County Democratic Organization.

🧱 LD-33: Rodriguez and Wainstein Dominate After Bitter Contest

The Democratic primary for Legislative District 33 turned into a rout as Assemblyman Gabriel Rodriguez and Larry Wainstein soundly defeated their rivals Tony Hector and Frank Alonso. Despite the race being marred by intense political attacks and internal power struggles between HCDO factions aligned with Brian Stack and Nick Sacco, the Rodriguez-Wainstein slate reportedly won by more than a 3-to-1 margin.

Rodriguez, a sitting assemblyman, and Wainstein, a North Bergen political veteran, a victory for Larry after years of attempts, are expected to coast to victory in November. Their win underscores the dominance of the Stack-Sacco alliance in North Hudson and delivers a major blow to outside challengers looking to continue the political machine of Brian Stack.

🔮 What’s Next: November Looms Large

With the stage now set for the general election, the results from Tuesday’s primary reflect not only individual campaign victories but broader voter sentiments:

A push against machine politics was evident in both LD-32 and the sheriff’s race. Traditional power structures, however, held firm in LD-33 and likely remain strong heading into November. The governor’s race is shaping up as a referendum on Murphy-era policies, Trump-era backlash, and the economic future of New Jersey.

As the general election approaches, all eyes now turn to how these newly minted nominees will appeal beyond their bases — and whether the momentum built on June 10 will carry them through the political battlefield of November 4.

For more on each race and updated election data, visit the New Jersey Division of Elections website or the Hudson County Clerk’s Office.

Union City, NJ — June 7, 2025

A huge scandal has erupted in Union City, NJ after a letter signed by Mayor and State Senator Brian Stack was leaked by whistleblowers to Independent Investigative Journalist Leroy Truth of the Facebook and YouTube Channels Leroy Truth Investigations — and it’s sparking extreme outrage.

We just learned that dozens of Union City, New Jersey teachers and staff have been reaching out to Leroy Truth nonstop over the past several hours enraged as they are demanding the immediate resignations and an immediate criminal investigation into:

Mayor and New Jersey State Senator and Head of the New Jersey State Judiciary Committee Brian Stack, the entire Union City Board of Education including President of the Board of Education Ydalia Genao, and Union City, New Jersey School Superintendent Sylvia Abbato among others.

They are also demanding an immediate investigation over Stack’s years-long allegations of extreme corruption as well additional scrutiny on Mayor and Senator Brian Stacks’ concrete grip and control on Hudson County politics.

The letter, printed on official City of Union City letterhead, paid for by “Union City First”, was mailed to the private home addresses of Union City Board of Education employees. It wasn’t about city policy. It wasn’t even from their employer, the BOE. Instead, it was a blatant political pressure campaign:

“Please speak to your family and friends about the importance of voting for the candidates who will help us continue to succeed,” Stack wrote.

These Board of Education employees don’t even report to Stack. So why is he sending political letters to their homes?

That’s the question at the heart of this controversy — and it’s exposing serious cracks in the firewall that should exist between municipal government and public education.

🔥 “Why is the Mayor Sticking His Nose Where It Doesn’t Belong?”

Stack’s letter raises eyebrows by making direct appeals on school-related issues — including Board of Education funding — despite the fact that the Board of Education is an autonomous entity, with its own trustees, its own superintendent, and its own officials.

Yet Stack wrote:

“As the election approaches, I ask for your help in protecting what we have worked so hard to achieve.”

That’s not his job. Mayors in New Jersey have no authority over BOE funding, and Stack knows this. The trustees of the Board — the very people he helped install — are supposed to represent the district and advocate for the resources they need.

So why is the Mayor acting like a middleman for the school board? The answer is clear: control. Stack has turned the Union City BOE into a political extension of his machine. Instead of an independent board working for students and parents, it has become a tool of his political empire.

🧨 Whistleblowers Step Forward: “We’ve Had Enough”

This letter didn’t stay quiet. Multiple employees at the Union City Board of Education — risking retaliation — leaked it to investigative journalist Leroy Truth, who confirmed its authenticity. Sources say this letter is just one of many examples of Stack using his position to manipulate public employees into supporting his preferred candidates.

One whistleblower told Leroy:

“This isn’t support — it’s coercion. We’re being told who to vote for, and it’s not okay.”

The use of public resources — including potentially misusing public employee contact information — is now under scrutiny. The letter did not include any campaign disclaimer or come from a political campaign other than paid for by Union City First. Instead, it carried the official letter head of “from the desk of Brian P. Stack, Mayor of Union City”, and was signed by the Mayor in his public capacity, not as a private citizen.

📬 Misuse of Employee Information?

Sources close to the Union City BOE confirmed that thousands of public school employees — including non-political staff — received the letter, despite never having shared their home addresses with Stack’s political operation.

One whistleblower told Leroy Truth, the independent journalist who broke the story:

“We’ve never given our addresses to Stack or his campaign. We don’t even work for the city. How did he get this information? Why is the mayor writing to us like we’re his employees?”

According to the Union City Board of Education’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, employee information — including home addresses — is not public record and cannot be shared outside specific legal exceptions. The relevant section (Article 6, P.2.E.) clearly states:

“The home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, date of birth… are not government records and are exempt from any disclosure requirements…”

If Stack obtained this data through the BOE or any government resource, it could constitute a violation of state privacy and election laws.

📢 Hypocrisy and Fear: The Stack Playbook

In his letter, Stack tries to play the victim, writing:

“The election cycle for the June Primary has been contentious and often hostile. My political opponents continue to spread lies and launch personal attacks that are aimed at hurting my family and me.”

“These same attacks are indicative of the true intentions of the political party bosses who continue to try to hurt our community for their own political gain.”

Let’s be clear: the only “political machine and party boss” here is the one run by Brian Stack himself.

He’s the one holding two powerful offices — mayor and senator — and still not content to let candidates speak for themselves. Now he’s crying foul over criticism, even as he inserts himself into races where he’s not on the ballot, all while targeting school employees who don’t answer to him.

But that’s the cost of politics — especially when you make yourself the face of someone else’s campaign and bring your own family into the political spotlight. Stack can’t have it both ways. If he wanted to stay above the fray, he should have stayed out of it. Instead, he’s weaponizing public institutions for his own gain, then crying when called out.

🏛️ The Bigger Problem: A Compromised School Board

The silence from the current Union City Board of Education trustees is deafening. These individuals are supposed to protect the integrity and independence of the school system, not serve as foot soldiers in Stack’s political machine. By allowing this level of interference and intimidation to occur, they have shown themselves to be political lackeys — not public servants.

Adding to the growing outrage, Marco Navarro — a current Board of Education trustee, city employee, and Republican candidate for the New Jersey State Assembly in District 37 — confirmed that he personally received one of the political letters at his home. “This is beyond unethical,” Navarro said. “As both an employee and an elected trustee, I find it deeply troubling that our personal information is being used to send political propaganda from our employer. This crosses the line between governance and coercion. I don’t even live in the district currently to be receiving this letter!” Navarro, who has been outspoken about the need for term limits and greater separation between local government and school boards, called the move “an outrageous abuse of power and a perfect example of why the political machine of Brian Stack in Hudson County must be dismantled.”

🚨 What Happens Now?

This explosive situation is now too big to ignore. The following questions demand answers:

Who provided the private home addresses of school employees to a political actor? Why is the Mayor acting on behalf of the Board of Education without authority? What legal boundaries have been crossed by using city resources for political campaigning?

📞 If You Have Information

If you received this letter or have evidence of political coercion at the Union City Board of Education, contact:

The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, The FBI Public Corruption Division, and Investigative journalist Leroy Truth

Whistleblowers are stepping up — and this is only the beginning. The wall of silence is crumbling. The people of Union City and New Jersey deserve better than a political system built on fear, manipulation, and unchecked power.

The truth is coming out. And Brian Stack can’t run from it anymore.

Edison, NJ (June 6, 2025) — Ann Marie Pocklembo, a respected educator with 32 years of service, has publicly accused Edison Township’s Mayor Samip Joshi of sexually assaulting her in June 2020. Her detailed account, presented in a letter to her fellow residents, has ignited fresh scrutiny amid ongoing local elections and questions surrounding accountability from elected officials. 

A Trusted Friendship Turns Traumatic

Pocklembo describes forging an online connection with Joshi during the early days of the COVID‑19 pandemic, when he held the position of Vice President of the Edison Council. She felt a sense of trust in him as an elected leader offering guidance during the lockdown. 

In June 2020, as restrictions eased, Pocklembo accepted Joshi’s invitation to his home for what was framed as a casual social engagement. She recalls being served mixed drinks and becoming violently ill—so incapacitated she couldn’t drive home. Instead of helping her, Pocklembo says Joshi sexually assaulted her, taking advantage of her vulnerable state. Since then, she has endured both physical complications requiring medical intervention and deep emotional distress. 

The Fallout: Seeking Answers and Facing Denial

Following the incident, Pocklembo reported it to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, but alleges she was blocked from accessing the final investigative report. Her OPRA request to see an incident report related to retaliation at her home was denied. Despite the reported investigation closing in September 2022, officials concluded Joshi’s conduct did not violate the law. 

Moreover, Pocklembo attempted privately on several occasions to seek clarity and apology from Joshi—none were acknowledged. Meanwhile, Joshi ascended to the mayoralty and currently serves as public safety director, raising profound concerns for Pocklembo about public trust and the safety of residents under his leadership. 

Public and Political Reactions

In her letter dated May 26, 2025, Pocklembo urges residents to recognize her as more than a figure in a political campaign—equating her experience with what any daughter, mother, or wife might endure. She announced her intention was not motivated by politics but by the imperative of truth and accountability, emphasizing the emotional toll of encountering campaign signs such as “Women for Joshi” that she believes undermine her allegations. 

In response, former Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Joyce Ship‑Freeman expressed deep support. “My heart broke reading Ann Marie’s letter… No woman should go through the trauma she describes. I stand with her,” she wrote, condemning Joshi’s actions and demanding accountability. 

Prosecutor’s Office and Political Implications

In a letter dated January 9, 2025, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone informed attorney Richard Flaum that a thorough investigation concluded with no criminal charges against Joshi and the closure of the file in September 2022. 

However, Pocklembo’s detailed account and claims about retaliation have renewed calls for transparency. Residents and voter blocs are increasingly demanding that Joshi address the allegations directly.

What’s Ahead

Public Response from the Mayor: To date, Mayor Joshi’s office and Chief of Staff Bob Diehl have not responded to multiple requests for comment or clarification on Pocklembo’s allegations. Legal Review Possibilities: The reopening of the case has not been confirmed. Yet, Pocklembo’s detailed narrative and public support may prompt renewed legal or administrative review. Electoral Impact: With municipal elections approaching, this revelation could significantly influence voter sentiment and campaign dynamics.

Why It Matters

This story extends beyond one individual—it’s a profound reminder of a community’s responsibility to listen, validate, and adapt. As a long‑standing educator and leader in Edison, Pocklembo’s decision to share her story reflects the courage survivors often summon in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Conclusion:

Ann Marie Pocklembo’s public disclosure forces a reckoning in Edison about leadership, accountability, and the enduring impact of trauma. Regardless of legal outcomes, this narrative challenges the township: How will it ensure safety, integrity, and trust for all residents—especially those who suffer in silence?