Dissed

In what appears to have been a political excommunication, the Borough of Middlesex Republican Organization (BMRO) has distanced a member for real or perceived infractions.

So far, the GOP has declined to explain its reasoning.

Borough Councilman Jeremiah Carnes has clashed with the Republican powers-that-be. Earlier this year, he became involved in running drama at council meetings due to a series of volunteer resignations in 2023 from the Cultural & Heritage Committee. Carnes has served as the C&H group’s council liaison since its formation in 2020.

The messy ordeal seemed to be in the rearview mirror. The local Republican Party or its leadership, however, decided to make a point.

While recently scanning the municipal Republican website, Inside – Middlesex noticed a peculiarity in the municipal governing body listing. Mayor Jack Mikolajczyk and five council members are listed as “BMRO representatives.” Carnes, named a bit further down on the page, is tagged as “Republican – Not BMRO.”

Carnes was elected to the council twice – in 2019 and again in 2022 – while running under the banner of the Middlesex Borough Republican Organization. There’s still ample online evidence of his two victories. He’s pictured on Facebook holding a cake with running mates John Madden and Jim Eodice at a 2019 campaign fundraiser. Other photos show candidate lawn signs from three years later and Carnes engaged in various election activities.

Perhaps the sentiment to boot him – at least figuratively – from the BMRO is a case of election denial.

Middlesex Borough voters deserve an explanation. The local GOP twice endorsed Carnes, basically vouching for his ability and asking voters to support him. The municipal organization last supported Carnes’ candidacy only two years ago.

Did the organization, as a group, sanction Carnes? Or did a few individuals in the BMRO leadership decide on the website slight? BMRO Chairman Steve Greco has not replied to an Aug. 17 Facebook private message asking about the matter. It is unclear when the council member list in question was posted.

Carnes, however, gave his view of the situation. In a FB private message, he wrote that he was not aware of the GOP dis until notified by Inside – Middlesex. The councilman replied that he did not leave the BMRO, no action has been taken against him and there’s been no conversation with local party leadership “for a very long time.”

“I would like to convey my unwavering commitment to advocating for transparency, integrity, and honesty within our local government,” Carnes wrote. “My efforts to communicate and expose the issues at hand have been met with considerable resistance, particularly from a local Republican organization that operates in a manner reminiscent of a closed-off clique.”

“It often seems that individuals are valued only as long as they serve a purpose, and when they diverge from expected norms – as I did during a particularly challenging moment – there is little room for understanding,” Carnes added.

The GOP, he said, often “misinterprets his intentions” rather than “addressing the underlying issues I sought to raise.”

“I believe that constructive dialogue is essential for fostering a transparent and accountable local government,” Carnes wrote, “and I am eager to engage in conversations that prioritize the issues affecting our community.”

Carnes said he had hoped that he and the BMRO leadership could iron out their differences, but that hasn’t happened.

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