Jennifer L. Kuhn is a real estate agent and municipal official who rose from township council member to mayor within three years of entering elected office. She was appointed mayor in October 2025 following the unexpected resignation of longtime Mayor Michael Reina, becoming the first woman to lead the Ocean County municipality of 60,000 residents.
Kuhn was first elected to the Jackson Township Council in November 2022 and took office in January 2023. Within her first year, she ascended to council president, winning the position in January 2024 by a 3-1 council vote. Her rapid rise reflected an alliance with a council majority focused on increased municipal enforcement and operational accountability.
Her tenure has been marked by aggressive efforts to strengthen code enforcement and employee performance oversight. As council president, she pushed for stricter enforcement of township ordinances and publicly challenged department heads, including the police chief, over operational issues. These efforts culminated in the creation of a new public safety director position in 2025—a move that drew opposition from Police Chief Matthew Kunz and contributed to a $2 million settlement with the former chief for undermining his authority.
Kuhn was appointed mayor on October 3, 2025, following Reina's resignation after 17 years in office. The council voted 3-1 to install her, with Council Member Nino Borelli voting no and Kuhn abstaining. She immediately pledged to donate her $32,000 mayoral salary to local sports programs and community organizations, continuing a practice she began as a council member.
Her administration has faced significant internal conflict. In late 2025, multiple township employees—including code enforcement officers, the police chief, and a personnel officer—filed harassment complaints against her. A code enforcement officer subsequently sued the township in February 2026, alleging Kuhn targeted him for personal retaliation after he cited her in 2022 for operating as an unregistered landlord. The township launched third-party investigations into the claims, which Kuhn has denied, characterizing the complaints as politically motivated resistance to her accountability efforts.
Kuhn has implemented "Meet the Mayor" sessions and expanded office hours to increase constituent accessibility. She has stated she will serve out Reina's term through December 31, 2026, but has not formally announced whether she will seek election to a full term.
Political Career
• Mayor, Jackson Township (2025–present); appointed October 3, 2025; term ends December 31, 2026
• Council President, Jackson Township Council (2024–2025); elected January 2024
• Councilwoman, Jackson Township Council (2023–2025); elected November 2022; took office January 2023
• Real estate agent (current profession; owns real estate company)
Key Policy Areas
• Code enforcement and ordinance compliance
• Municipal employee accountability and performance oversight
• Government transparency and constituent accessibility
• Public safety administration
• Land use and zoning enforcement
Notable Actions / Initiatives
• Appointed first female mayor of Jackson Township (October 2025)
• Created new public safety director position, reorganizing police department oversight (2025)
• Implemented "Meet the Mayor" public sessions and expanded mayoral office hours (2025–2026)
• Donates mayoral salary ($32,000 annually) to local sports programs and community organizations
• Led effort to increase code enforcement activity, resulting in disputes with code enforcement officers over workload and enforcement priorities
• Presided over $2 million settlement with former Police Chief Matthew Kunz for authority undermining (settlement approved January 2026)
Education
• Not publicly available
Personal
• Birth date: Not publicly available (age 46 as of 2025)
• Residence: Jackson Township, New Jersey
• Profession: Real estate agent and business owner
