The Pemberton mayor who charged at a resident last month has lost his bid for reelection
The Republican incumbent made no mention of the Oct. 21 incident when congratulating Democrat Belinda Fontanez on her win.
Less than two weeks after making national headlines for his involvement in a near-physical altercation with a resident during a council meeting, Pemberton Township Mayor Matthew Bianchini was ousted by voters on Tuesday.
The Republican received just 30% of the vote, or 1,983 votes, compared with Democrat Belinda Fontanez, who pulled in 3,998 votes, according to preliminary election results from Burlington County as of Wednesday afternoon.
A late write-in effort from Republican Councilman Dan Dewey, which ramped up after Bianchini’s outburst, drew just 52 votes.
Over 500 Pemberton voters selected a write-in or personal choice candidate.
Bianchini was appointed mayor in January following the resignation of Jack Tompkins, who stepped down after multiple workplace sexual misconduct allegations.
During the Oct. 21 council meeting, Bianchini charged at a resident who raised his middle finger toward the mayor.
Bianchini’s wife, Nicole, later tried to explain her husband’s actions on Facebook, stating that he was acting as a protective father after the resident antagonized him and his family, who were also sitting in the audience.
Bianchini made no mention of the incident in a Facebook statement Wednesday congratulating Fontanez on her win.
“Campaigns are intense, emotional, and testing journeys. There are moments we look back on with pride, and moments that teach us humility,” Bianchini said. “Leadership requires learning from every chapter, I accept this outcome with an open heart and a deep respect for our democratic process.”
“Serving as your mayor has been one of the greatest privileges of my life,” he added, noting that his commitment to Pemberton Township “remains unchanged.”
He did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, Fontanez, a U.S. Navy veteran and former township code enforcement and zoning employee, released a lengthy victory statement Wednesday on Facebook.
“Throughout this campaign, I made a commitment to you: Leadership with Integrity. Service with Humility. Government with Transparency,” Fontanez said. “Those were not simply campaign words. They are the principles by which I intend to lead.”
“As we move forward, we will work to strengthen our neighborhoods, support our local businesses, protect our environment, invest in our young people, honor our seniors and veterans, and ensure that the voices of our residents are heard,” she said.
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