Woodbridge Mayor, Rival Spar In Secretly Recorded Convo

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — A political foe of Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac secretly recorded the mayor in a heated conversation the two had inside a Woodbridge firehouse, and leaked the conversation to the media. He also filed an official misconduct complaint with the New Jersey Attorney General.

The man is Ken Gardner, a Woodbridge resident who is running for a seat on the town Council this June. Gardner is trying to unseat Nancy Bader Drumm for the First Ward Council seat.

Drumm is an ally of McCormac's. Gardner and Drumm will face each other at the ballot box in the upcoming June 8 Democratic primary.

The conversation between Gardner and McCormac took place in December 2019 at Woodbridge Firehouse District 1, where Gardner is a volunteer firefighter.

Gardner begins by confronting the mayor with a common complaint in Woodbridge: That the town is being overdeveloped and McCormac is approving too many development plans. The following, provided by Insider NJ, is a transcript of what was said:

“What’s up with that project on Main Street, all the apartments?” Gardner asks. (He's referring to the Hess site.)
McCormac: “That’s the best taxpayer we’ve ever had in the history of Woodbridge Township. They never appealed their taxes since 1992 when I was the CFO. If they want to sell their property for apartments, I’m all in.”
Gardner: “We’re getting beat up enough with traffic up there. I don’t get it.”
McCormac: “You want to someday let me help you and you came out against my project so forget it. Forget it. How can I help you when you came out against my project?”
Gardner: “What do you mean ‘helped me’?”
McCormac: “Help you? I got you a Turnpike job; you’re trying to get me to get you a promotion, and you come out against my project. Don’t even talk to me anymore. I’m done with you.”
Gardner: “Listen, you’re in my firehouse. If you want to leave, leave.”
McCormac: “I’m not leaving."
Gardner: “This is my firehouse, I’m a member here."
McCormac: “I’m the mayor, everything’s mine."
Gardner: “What, the firehouse belongs to you?”
McCormac: “Everything’s mine."

Gardner said he thinks what McCormac said amounts to official misconduct. On April 21, he filed an official complaint against McCormac with the Corruption Bureau in the Division of Criminal Justice, part of the New Jersey Attorney General's office. He also sent the AG that recording.

Last Friday, May 7, the Corruption Bureau wrote back, and Gardner sent Patch a copy of that email. The Corruption Bureau confirmed his complaint had been received and said it will be reviewed. That was all they said. The AG's office did not say whether or not they were opening an investigation into McCormac.

Gardner admitted to Patch he secretly recorded the conversation with McCormac.

"Yes, I think it's outrageous that he said that — 'everything's mine' — but what I think is illegal is that he used my job to block me from testifying against his project," said Gardner.

Gardner said McCormac has "blocked me and threatened me before. He's treated me this way several times and I knew the only way I would be able to file a charge is if I recorded him."

"For him to bring my state job up when saying I testified against his projects is extremely inappropriate," said Gardner. "Telling a 30-year volunteer firefighter, who just received a lifesaving award, that 'I'm done with you, don't even talk to me' in the firehouse where the mayor knows I have been a member ...."

He trailed off.

When asked by Patch, McCormac said that several years ago he gave Gardner a positive reference when Gardner applied for a job in the purchasing department of the NJ Turnpike Authority. He said he and Gardner used to be something along the lines of acquaintances.

"I did not know he was taping me in that conversation and I cannot imagine how anyone else would have a conversation with him in the future without thinking he would do the same to them," said McCormac. "Mr. Gardner has his facts confused and he is not being honest with the people of Woodbridge. I have never, nor would I ever interfere to prevent someone from getting a job."

McCormac said he and Gardner were talking about the Hess site: "It's true. They never appealed their taxes the whole time they were in Woodbridge; they saved the town of Woodbridge tens of millions of dollars. They were a tremendous taxpayer and they sold the land to a developer, which filed an application to build apartments and retail."

Gardner previously served on the Woodbridge Council from 1992-95, ran for mayor after that and lost.

It's Gardner vs. Drumm in the June 8 Democratic primary and whoever wins that will be challenged by Republican John Vrtaric.

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