Margaret Miggins and Sanjeev Vinayak recall, Millburn Township, New Jersey (2022-2023)
| Margaret Miggins and Sanjeev Vinayak recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
Sanjeev Vinayak |
| Recall status |
| Signature requirement |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2023 Recalls in New Jersey New Jersey recall laws Mayoral recalls City council recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Millburn Township Mayor Margaret Miggins and Committeeman Sanjeev Vinayak did not go to a vote in Millburn Township, New Jersey.[1][2]
Recall supporters
Recall committee members included Dennis Fabian, Lena Einhorn, René Paparian, Eugene Belau, James Peter Kokkalis, and Ben Stoller.[3]
Organizers offered the following grounds for the recall campaign on their website.[3]
| “ |
[Miggins and Vinayak] accepted and then forced upon Millburn a Settlement Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Fair Share Housing Center that will drastically increase the traffic in Downtown Millburn, that through their approved zoning ordinances will disproportionately impact the South Mountain and Wyoming neighborhoods, and that will leave looming the possibility of a 70% increase in the number of dwelling units in Millburn Township (Millburn and Short Hills). Ms. Miggins and Mr. Vinayak have refused time and again to listen to the many affected Millburn residents beseeching them to modify, amend or alter the zoning overlays and dwelling unit densities, as is EXPLICITLY ALLOWED FOR in the Settlement Agreement. Such modifications, amendments and/or alterations have been publicly proposed. The zoning overlays, dwelling units per acre, and possibly the 100% Affordable Housing building at the current Department of Public Works Yard may be modified, amended or altered and Millburn will still meet its 114 dwelling unit Realistic Development Potential obligation. Without any explanation or reasons given, Ms. Miggins and Mr. Vinayak have simply refused to move forward in good faith and candor while purportedly representing and protecting Millburn’s best interests. THIS SITUATION CANNOT STAND![4] |
” |
Recall opponents
Miggins said about the recall campaign, "A recall effort is at its core an effort to undo the will of the voters, and in this case, to undo the will of Millburn neighbors and citizens who cast their votes in the 2020 election. ... I take my responsibility seriously, and I view my actions as a public official as a public trust. I do not intend to be distracted from the important work of the township and the attention it deserves. I remain as confident in those voters who asked me to serve then as I do now."[5]
Vinayak offered the following comment:[5]
| “ |
I chose to run for Millburn Township Committee because this is my home, it is where I raise my family, and this is where I plan to live for years to come. As an elected official, I am a representative of the township residents and businesses who have laid their trust in me. This has always been the lens I have used in decision-making. I agree completely that I have a fiduciary duty towards the residents and neighborhoods in Millburn Township, however, I disagree that I have not held up to this duty. I have always had the township’s betterment as my goal and have consistently based my decisions on facts shared with transparency and honesty. My responsibility is to represent all residents and I am confident that I have ALWAYS done so. I have a job to do to which I was duly elected, a responsibility to keep, one that I have fulfilled diligently and will continue to do for as long as the residents see fit for me to do so. I thank everyone for their faith in me and hope they will continue to trust me as we move forward.[4] |
” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in New Jersey
Organizers initiated the recall process by submitting a notice of intent to the town clerk on August 24, 2022.[5]
For a recall election to have been scheduled, organizers needed to collect signatures equal to 25% of registered township voters as of the previous general election. They had 160 days to collect the signatures.[3]
See also
- Recall campaigns in New Jersey
- Political recall efforts, 2023
- Political recall efforts, 2022
- Mayoral recalls
- City council recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ TapintoMillburn/ShortHills, "NOTICE OF INTENTION TO RECALL SANJEEV VINAYAK FROM THE OFFICE OF TOWNSHIP OF MILLBURN TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBER," September 7, 2022
- ↑ TapintoMillburn/ShortHills, "NOTICE OF INTENTION TO RECALL MARGARET “MAGGEE” MIGGINS FROM THE OFFICE OF TOWNSHIP OF MILLBURN TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBER," September 7, 2022
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Recall Miggins & Vinayak, "Home," accessed September 14, 2022
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Patch, "Millburn Mayor And Official Respond To Recall Petitions Against Them," September 8, 2022
