Hot-tempered NJ mayor loses reelection weeks after charging at critic during town meeting
A hot-tempered New Jersey mayor who charged at a resident during a fiery October meeting was trounced in his reelection bid.Pemberton Republican Mayor Matthew Bianchini conceded his race to Democratic challenger Belinda Fontanez Wednesday morning, nearly two weeks after lunging at a local gadfly, screaming “I am getting you, I am f–king getting you!”Bianchini had garnered only 1,983 votes — just over 30% of the ballot — as of Wednesday’s latest unofficial results from Burlington County.“The voters of Pemberton Township have spoken, and the results are clear.I offer Belinda Fontanez my sincere congratulations on her victory,” Bianchini wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.
“As she prepares to take on the responsibility of leading our community, she has my full support for a smooth transition.I care deeply about the future of this township, and its success matters far more than any single election,” he added.“Campaigns are intense, emotional, and testing journeys.
There are moments we look back on with pride, and moments that teach us humility.Leadership requires learning from every chapter, I accept this outcome with an open heart and a deep respect for our democratic process,” he said.Fontanez, a former township employee, had sued former Pemberton Mayor Jack Tompkins who resigned in January 2026 after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, according to NJ.com.Bianchini, who had been serving as a township committee member, was picked by the local Republican Party to replace Tompkins and serve out the remaining term.Bianchini came under fire two weeks before election day after his viral outburst at vocal critic Michael Sawka during a committee hearing on Oct.
22.Former town director of Community Development Ken Garber accused the mayor and his administration of wrongdoing when Bianchini and Township Engineer Jennifer Harris stared down their critics in the gallery.Sawka allegedly made a gesture – which the mayor claims was hostile towards hi...