DOVER - Jack Ciattarelli likes talking about the three Democratic mayors who have endorsed him. And early Tuesday morning, one of those mayors, Jim Dodd, of Dover, talked about it on Fox News.

He said Ciattarelli has "real solutions" to the state's problems.

As for Mikie Sherrill.

"We don't hear real solutions from Mikie," he said, adding that he has supported Sherrill in the past.

Sherrill represents Dover in Congress, and in last year's election, she easily won the town by about 1,100 votes.

One can debate endlessly what an endorsement means. Sometimes, it means merely one more vote.

Of more significance, however, is the fact Dover has a large Hispanic population.

And in mirroring what some have observed nationally, Dodd said more Hispanics in his town seem to be turning to the GOP.

If so, that is more of a problem for Sherrill than the support of one mayor for Ciattarelli.

In truth, Dodd has been on the outs with Morris County Democrats.

Back in 2019, Dodd ran for reelection as an independent after the Morris Dems declined to support him. He lost to the Democratic candidate, Carolyn Blackman.

But in 2023, Dodd entered - and won - the Democratic primary over Blackman and became mayor again in 2024. People thinking all was fine between him and the county Democratic organization obviously were mistaken.

Dodd at the moment has more concerns than an election for governor.

There is nothing unique in Dover about litigation involving the police department. Continuing that trend, Jonathan Delaney, the police chief, is suing Dodd and the town claiming harassment.

Here is part of the what the suit says:

"Dodd made it clear through his own actions and the actions of his supporters that if any employee engaged in activity that demonstrated a political and/or personal animus against him, he would use the power of his office and his power as a supervisor to both individually and through members of his administration, including the business administrator and the appropriate authority, to retaliate against the employee."

With that going on, talking about the governor's race could be a nice distraction.

Also in the Fox interview, Dodd was asked if he may switch parties and become a Republican. He didn't rule it out.

"That may be in the future," he said. "I haven't made that decision yet."

He also predicted that if he became a Republican, he thinks a majority of the now-Democratic council would join him.

Dover Deserves Better: Mayor Dodd’s Endorsement of Jack Ciattarelli Undermines His Community

This morning Dover Mayor Jim Dodd went on Fox News to endorse Jack Ciattarelli for governor, continuing his long-standing pattern of endorsing Republicans who use immigrant communities as political punching bags.

Dodd endorsed Chris Christie, who slashed school funding, attacked unions, and vetoed a bill that would have limited the role of local police in federal immigration enforcement, including restricting the use of solitary confinement for detained immigrants

Now Dodd is supporting Jack Ciattarelli, a man who has pledged to repeal New Jersey’s Immigrant Trust Directive, turn local police into ICE agents, and reduce funding for essential public services like education and healthcare.

Dodd claims he wants to "rescue" Dover, but every decision he makes reveals a pattern of self-interest over public service.

After primary voters rejected the mayor’s hand-picked council candidates in Wards 1, 2, and 3, he’s now backing write-in opponents and supporting a local Republican. Dodd will do whatever it takes to ensure a compliant council he can strong-arm over independent voices that will advocate on behalf of all Dover residents.

And following in President Trump’s footsteps in trying to silence voices he disagrees with, Dodd reportedly has hired private security, locked the front door of Dover’s town hall, and is screening who is or is not allowed to enter the building.

Dover deserves a governor – and a mayor and a town council  – that respects, uplifts, and strengthens its diverse community. Jack Ciattrelli does not. And increasingly it seems like Jim Dodd and his allies don’t either.

Darcy Draeger

Chair

Morris County Democratic Committee