JACKSON – Rob Nixon, who had been serving as president of the Jackson Township Council, announced his resignation from the governing body during its meeting on the evening of Nov. 26. Nixon had one year (2020) remaining in his current four-year term.
Nixon delivered his letter of resignation to the municipal clerk after the meeting and the effective date was Nov. 26. The position is now vacant.
Jackson has a nonpartisan government and any resident may apply for the position, regardless of his or her political affiliation, or lack of affiliation. A new council member will be appointed to serve through 2020, with a vote of the majority of the remaining council members (three votes needed).
There will be a municipal election in Jackson in 2020. The terms of Vice President Barry Calogero and Councilman Ken Bressi, as well as the individual who succeeds Nixon, will end on Dec. 31, 2020.
In comments from the dais, Nixon said, “An elected official is required to make a number of decisions, easy or hard, routine or groundbreaking, controversial or mundane. Making choices comes with our office and it is a responsibility that should be performed with care and deep thought.
“And there is nothing more personal for an elected official than deciding about their future in office and I have decided now is the time for me to step down as a councilman. I did not come to this decision lightly, but fortunately I have a number of personal and professional opportunities ahead of me that simply require my full attention and they must become the priority in my life,” Nixon said.
Nixon said that for almost eight years, he has placed Jackson ahead of himself, his job and his family.
“The time has come for me to put them first,” he said.
Nixon said he leaves the council knowing that people who may wish to tear Jackson apart will fail to divide the community.
“This is not a decision based on politics … based on my record and commitment to our residents, I would have easily won re-election next year, but winning an election is not what motivates me because doing this job has never been about me or the title.
“My actions as a councilman have always focused exclusively on how to make this town better and how to provide services to our residents at the lowest possible impact to their taxes.
“I tried to do that to the best of my ability. Did I get it right? Of course not, no elected official at any level always gets it right and we certainly can’t expect them to deliver everything everyone wants, but when an elected official fails or misses the mark they must learn from it and move on better prepared for the future,” Nixon said.
“I hope I set a good example as council president, that I changed the culture of these meetings for the better. I am proud to work with my colleagues to expand our amazing police department. When I started in this role the police department was understaffed, today the police department is at its peak,” Nixon said.
Nixon said he was proud to pass fiscally responsible budgets.
“People forget that before 2010, this town had been nearly run into bankruptcy by budgets that were based solely on politics. We worked hard to balance the books and our surplus is now the biggest ever, our tax collection rate is nearly 100%, and we have never been more financially sound,” Nixon said.
Nixon thanked Township Administrator Terence Wall for his leadership.
He went on to say, “I am proud we focused on quality of life issues, better parks, preserving ROVA Farms, enhancing the delivery of services, stronger code enforcement, a better economic development environment. All of that benefits every single resident of this town and that bears repeating, ensuring a high quality of life benefits everyone, period, and on that point I will never back down,” Nixon said.
“Thank you to the people of Jackson who have twice overwhelmingly elected me to office. I hope I lived up to your trust,” he said.
Nixon praised Mayor Michael Reina, the council and the Republican Club of Jackson before praising his former running mate, Calogero.
“You (Calogero) are a true gentleman. For the last 10 years I watched you care so deeply for this town. You are hard-working, honest and considerate. I admire your trust, your selflessness and your commitment to public service.
“There is no one I trust here more than you and no one has been more loyal to me over the years, and if I take anything away from this time on council it will be the bond we developed,” Nixon said.
Reina praised Nixon for his tenure on the governing body and for wearing his emotions on his sleeve with his leadership style.
Bressi said Nixon’s decision took him by surprise and said he never heard a person speak professionally like him.
“I think the part the public misses is how much time in the decisions you make between the time you take away from your family for this office, and the jobs you hold and how much tenacity you have to do those jobs,” Bressi said.
Councilman Andrew Kern said the preparation and commitment Nixon has given to Jackson will be missed.
“The respect you have throughout the county, throughout the state and even farther out than that is absolutely genuine and it starts right here, sitting right next to you,” Kern said.
Councilman Alexander Sauickie said meeting Nixon as a resident was one of the reasons he was inspired to run for public office.
“I think you (Nixon) and Vice President Calogero really ushered in a new wave of elected officials in this town … you have challenged the status quo, you have not done things politically correct, and in turn you have been unfairly targeted by people who run propaganda pages (online) and hide their identity.
“Jackson is, without a doubt, better because you have been here. There is no doubt we are losing something with you leaving. I think what you started will continue … I thank you for your leadership,” Sauickie said.
Calogero said, “The injustices and mistruths that are printed by social media have yet again struck home. I can tell you firsthand that Council President Nixon is the most honorable, well respected, hard-working public servant in the entire state. That sentiment is echoed through the halls of Trenton from both sides of the aisle.
“Councilman Nixon has spent the good part of seven years on council attempting to bring a growing, diverse population together as a community.
“Unfortunately, if you listen to the social media sites, both within our borders and in neighboring towns, they deliberately and intentionally paint a different picture in order to promote their own hate-filled agenda. Council President Nixon has always been respectful to all residents regardless of race or religion. He is a true leader,” Calogero said.
He said Nixon’s hard work, honesty and integrity will be missed.
“Councilman Nixon will be remembered as the best public servant this town has ever had,” Calogero said.
Nixon said he had a lot of good things ahead of him and said he served his community the best he could.
