EATONTOWN, NJ –– Despite a lack of legal precedent, former Eatontown Councilwoman and anti-harassment activist Jasmine Story has filed a lawsuit with the Monmouth County Superior Court asking to be placed on the primary ballot as a Democratic candidate for Eatontown mayor. Story was blocked from including her name on a joint candidate petition which she submitted to the Eatontown Borough Clerk on April 4th, the last day submissions were allowed.

Story is running for mayor coming off the heels of pushing back on legislation that would hold public officials accountable for their treatment of women in campaign and government roles, including mainline democrats, who currently have a stronghold in Monmouth County.

Story’s lawsuit asks that the Monmouth County Clerk be restrained from preparing the primary ballot until this complaint is resolved. The lawsuit also asks the Court to have the defendants “show cause” for denying Story’s petition. Named as defendants in the complaint are Julie Martin, Eatontown Borough Clerk, Christine Hanlon, Monmouth County Clerk, and Cassandra Achille, Assistant Supervisor for Elections.

Story’s candidate petition was joined with fellow candidates Todd Miller and Angela Brunelli, who are running for Eatontown Borough Council. The joint filing is the reason Story says her petition was rejected, even though previous filings for joint offices in Eatontown, as well as other jurisdictions, historically have been accepted contrary to the position being taken against Story. Story said she had to remove her name from the joint petition in order for the council candidates’ petition to be accepted.

While Story’s petition required only 21 signatures, 29 registered Democrats in the Borough signed it. Following the rejection, all but two (who were out of state) of the 29 signed additional affidavits swearing they fully knew and intended to sign a joint petition for Story for mayor and Miller and Brunelli for council. All three are running as Eatontown Democrats.

On April 11, 2022, the Court issued a temporary and preliminary injunction in Story’s favor. A return date has been scheduled for April 13, 2022. The Monmouth County Clerk’s office as well as the Municipal Clerk’s office have until 4pm on April 12, 2022 to respond to Story’s complaint.

“The fact that I have to seek Court intervention is disgraceful, but is sadly consistent with the treatment I’ve received by the County. Luckily, I have the resources to challenge this, but not every candidate would. This is antithetical to the democratic process and undermines the voters by ensuring the incumbent runs unopposed. They created an arbitrary rule that is not consistent with the law or historical practices.”

The Primary Election takes place on June 7, 2022, but the deadline for ballot changes is mid-April.