Tommy Alexander hopes to rebound from animal cruelty conviction with bid for Morristown council

Tommy Alexander, right, submits petitions for his council candidacy to Morristown Town Clerk Matt Stechauner moments before the April 1 filing deadline. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Tommy Alexander, right, submits petitions for his council candidacy to Morristown Town Clerk Matt Stechauner moments before the April 1 filing deadline. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
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Tommy Alexander, the former Morristown official convicted of animal cruelty last year, is running for town council.

This is not an April Fool’s joke.

Minutes before Monday’s 4 pm deadline, Tommy delivered his petition signatures to town Clerk Matt Stechauner.

Tommy, planning board member Michael Pooler and former Fourth Ward candidate Jessica Williamson are running in the June 4 Democratic primary against incumbents Michelle Dupree Harris, Kevin Gsell and Toshiba Foster, who serve as at-large council members. They are running as a slate with Mayor Tim Dougherty.

The challengers are not running as a slate, according to Michael Pooler.

No Republicans filed for the council or mayoral primary.  The Mayor, a Democrat pursuing his second term, will be unopposed unless write-in candidates emerge down the line.

Tommy Alexander, right, submits petitions for his council candidacy to Morristown Town Clerk Matt Stechauner moments before the April 1 filing deadline. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Tommy Alexander, right, submits petitions for his council candidacy to Morristown Town Clerk Matt Stechauner moments before the April 1 filing deadline. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

THE STRANGE CASE OF ‘SATIN’

Tommy Alexander, accompanied by his daughter on Monday afternoon, said he was not ready to comment yet about his candidacy.

It’s sure to rank among the most unusual ones that Morristown has seen in years.

Tommy resigned, with pension and health benefits, from his $90,000 job as Morristown’s chief housing inspector after being convicted last year of cruelty for starving his unlicensed dog, Satin, in December 2011.

At the time of the incident, Tommy was head of Morristown’s Human Services Department. That department oversees animal control, and Tommy should have known better, said Rockaway Municipal Judge Gerard Smith.

Tommy is appealing the disorderly persons conviction, which brought several thousand dollars in fines and a sentence of community service with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

“There is no basis for his conviction,” said Tommy’s lawyer, Gary Moylen. “I’m very, very, very confident he’ll be acquitted.”   The appeal is scheduled to be heard next month in state Superior Court.

During the trial, Morristown’s  animal control officer testified that this was the most severe case of animal neglect she had encountered in her four years on the job. A veterinarian told the court she had been “shocked” by the emaciated condition of the mixed-breed dog, which was little more than half of its ideal weight, reeked of urine, and had overgrown, “dagger-like” claws suggesting weeks of confinement.

Tommy, who is battling liver cancer, testified that he loved the dog but had given it away weeks before, because he was moving to an apartment that did not allow pets. One reason for the move, he told the judge, was gunfire in his Second Ward neighborhood.

Authorities found a new home for the dog, which made a full recovery.

Asked about Tommy Alexander’s candidacy, Mayor Dougherty said he wished all the candidates well.

“We live in a great country that affords everybody the right to run… Everybody who wants to participate in the political forum can do so. I encourage people to be involved. My hat’s off to them,” he said.

Click video ‘playlist’ button for trial summations, conviction, and reversal of job forfeiture in the Tommy Alexander case

 

NO G.O.P.

Michael Pooler, meanwhile, said he would advocate for “smart development” as a councilman. On the planning board, he has been critical of some aspects of the town’s unfolding Speedwell Avenue redevelopment.

Synchronizing traffic lights and moving a crosswalk on Speedwell Avenue could improve traffic flow, he said. The systems analyst said he also favors better use of social media to communicate with residents. In 2011, Michael finished second in a three-way Democratic primary race for a council seat in the Third Ward.  His planning board colleague, Stefan Armington, won that race and the general election.

Council President Michelle Dupree Harris said she feels Morristown is in “excellent” condition and looks forward to seeking a fifth term.

“Over the last four years we’ve been moving forward with the Speedwell Avenue redevelopment, the CVS pharmacy, and Epstein’s,” she said, referring to condos, apartments and townhouses that have replaced the Epstein’s department store.

If re-elected, Michelle said she will keep striving to solve flooding issues at Coal Avenue and Bishop Nazrey Way, and bring affordable housing there. She also wants to create supervised housing for young adults with special needs.

Republican Committee Chairman Frank Vitolo could not immediately be reached for comment about the absence of GOP entries.

Morristown Town Clerk Matt Stechauner closes up at 4 pm, the deadline for local candidates to file for the June primary. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Morristown Town Clerk Matt Stechauner closes up at 4 pm, the deadline for local candidates to file for the June primary. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Mayor Dougherty suggested the lack of any GOP candidates indicated the Democratic incumbents “are doing a good job.

“There is every reason to re-elect these three council members, based on their performance…They will continue to move Morristown forward, with a positive voice, and a transparent council,” said the Mayor, who cited “positive growth” during his first term.

He promised an “issue-oriented, positive” campaign.

 

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