Mark Seda

Jackon Council President Mike Kafton

They're running again, but not together.

In fact, if ever two men were running straight at each other in a mayoral contest, it's Jackson Mayor Mike Reina and Council President Mike Kafton.

The unabashed political animal Kafton, and the outwardly grudgingly political Reina formed an uneasy alliance last year when they took on their mutual political enemy Mark Seda, then the fast sagging mayor of Jackson Township.

They blended forces - Kafton as the charismatic Democrat and penitential former mayor looking to regain what he lost, and Reina as the straight-talking local first responder newcomer and one of the founders of the Jackson Tea Party, a renegade Republican outfit opposed to Ocean County GOP Chair George Gilmore's establishment. 

JACKSON - An Election Day sweep by a bipartisan ticket led by Jackson Mayor Mark SedaDemocrat Michael Kafton propelled citizens to the microphone at a Thursday night council meeting to complain about Mayor Mark Seda’s efforts to privatize the city’s building department.

At the head of the charge was the newly victorious Kafton, who called on Attorney General Anne Milgram to investigate Seda’s efforts even as the mayor’s father faces a $30,000 building department fine.

He also chastised the council for failing to join him.

"The council is either closing their eyes or not strong enough to stand up to him (Seda)," said the councilman-elect and former mayor. "I demanded the council get to the attorney general’s office."

Jackson Councilwoman Emily Ingram is seeking re-election to a second term
JACKSON - Although her running mates from two years ago won’t be joining her in a re-election bid, Councilwoman Emily Ingram said she feels no less committed to building on her freshman term in office.

A certified public accountant and Brooklyn native who moved here with her husband and children six years ago, the only incumbent on the May 13th ballot welcomes a debate with former committeeman Michael Kafton on the fiscal foibles of Jackson Township.

Jackson Mayor Mark SedaJACKSON - Former committeeman Michael Kafton went to the microphone at the head of the room in Town Hall on Tuesday and pointed out the camera standing on a tripod in the corner, unmanned, tilted slightly downward and dark amid a jumble of cords.

"That equipment was given to us by Cablevision," Kafton told the governing body. "When I was up there, the meetings were filmed. You haven’t filmed a single meeting."Council candidate Michael Kafton

"We don’t have that gentleman you used to pay $60,000 to do that," shot back Councilman Angelo Stallone. "Didn’t you pay him $60,000 to film the meetings? We don’t have that gentleman."

"I didn’t pay him $60,000 to film the meetings," said Kafton.

"$65,000," put in Jackson Mayor Mark Seda from his seat on the far end of the dais, and Stallone led the hearty chorus of laughter from the council.