Jackson Township Mayor Mike Reina, the town’s longest-serving chief executive, has stepped down after nearly 18 years in office, ending a tenure marked by political clashes, historic storms, and shifting dynamics within Ocean County’s Republican establishment. His resignation takes effect October 1.
Reina, whose current term was set to expire in 2026, confirmed his decision in a letter to the Township Council, Business Administrator Lavon Phillips, and Township Attorney Gregory McGuckin. He cited personal reasons, noting that while he had “enjoyed and even had fun” as mayor, the role had at times forced him to “neglect [his] family.”
The Republican mayor dismissed speculation that his resignation was tied to his county employment. Reina, who became superintendent of Ocean County bridges in 2015, was promoted last year to director of the bridge department during a county reorganization. “That promotion had nothing to do with this decision,” he told The Jackson Times.
Reina first assumed the mayor’s office in November 2008 after the resignation of former Mayor Mark Seda. A Tea Party activist who had built a local following, he went on to win his first full term in 2009 and secured reelection in 2022, defeating Council President Marty Flemming.
During Donald Trump’s first term, Reina was the only Ocean County mayor invited to Washington, D.C., for a White House meeting with the president. He also briefly weighed a run for the state Assembly in 2023 following the death of longtime GOP lawmaker Ron Dancer but withdrew.
Reina presided over Jackson during Superstorm Sandy and other severe weather crises, pointing to those years as among his most challenging and defining. “I feel that I put Jackson in a good place, so this is a bittersweet decision,” he said.
The mayor’s final year in office was marked by escalating tensions with members of the all-Republican council. Council President Jennifer Kuhn—who ran on Reina’s ticket in 2022—criticized his handling of communications when the township’s email system collapsed in April and the closure of the Jackson Food Pantry facility.
Reina also faced criticism for rarely attending council meetings in 2024. In response, the council voted to slash his $60,000 salary in half as part of a broader cost-cutting measure.
Budget delays deepened the rift. Both sides acknowledged the sudden resignations of the township’s longtime business administrator, chief financial officer, and deputy financial officer contributed to the holdup, but council members faulted Reina for failing to deliver a spending plan on time.
Because Reina’s resignation falls after the September 16 deadline, there will be no special election. Instead, the Township Council will appoint an acting mayor to serve the remainder of his term. If a sitting council member is chosen, the council will also need to fill that vacant seat.
The November ballot will already feature a contest for the seat once held by the late Councilman Scott Sargent, temporarily filled by former councilman Ken Bressi. Political newcomers Al Couceiro and Chris Pollak are competing in that race.
In his resignation letter, Reina thanked township employees, volunteers, and residents, saying he was “humbled” by their support. He pledged to assist with a “smooth transition” for his successor.
“I have greatly appreciated the opportunity to serve the people of Jackson,” Reina wrote. “While this decision was not an easy one, it is the best for me and my family at this time.”