Washington Township Councilman Richard Bennett has resigned after getting caught on a surveillance video mailing venomous, anonymous letters to two women on the school board, setting up a special election for his seat in November.
Bennett now faces harassment charges after law enforcement found that he allegedly mailed the letters from the Blackwood Post Office after purchasing metered stamps at the counter at about 2:47 PM on May 12.
The detective, Anthony R. Aquilino, was able to trace the transaction record on the stamp and pulled up video surveillance footage that showed Bennett mailing the letters. Bennett paid cash for the postage, but Aquilino said he was able to identify the individual as Bennett.
The letters were addressed to Connie Baker and Patricia Blome, both school board members, and used the name and return address of another board member, Julie Kozempel.
Bennett denied his involvement when contacted by the New Jersey Globe, even though the photo clearly identifies him.
The Washington Township Republican Committee must meet within fifteen days of his resignation and submit three names to the all-Republican township council in Gloucester County’s largest municipality. The council has fifteen days to pick one of the three or send the appointment back to the county committee.
Both parties have until August 28 to pick their nominees for the special election, which will be held on the date of the general election.
The letter stated: “Evil, drunk at BOE meetings (boozing), stupid, personal agenda for Dems, forgetting about kids, shameful, dishonest, playing games with the superintendent’s job, time to step down, and you are a disgrace, did not even review line items on the budget or talk to Jonine (Wechter, the school business administrator), you are a disgrace, and God is watching your language.”
Baker, Blome and Kozempel filed a combined twelve complaints on Friday.
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