This post is a potpourri of issues surrounding the statement made by Jennifer Stomsky, Ambler’s elected tax collector and a local leader within the Democratic Party. Earlier today, AroundAmbler.com reported that Stomsky posted an apology on her Facebook page and announced her resignation from one of her two positions with the local Democratic Party committee. She did not resign as the tax collector and is up for reelection in November.

Borough Council Member Kelly Hughes

We were reviewing the agenda for the September 16th meeting of Ambler’s borough council and noticed that the chair of the public safety committee is Councilmember Amy Hughes, who is the same person who said she couldn’t argue with Stomsky’s original statement (see image at the top of the article). The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 16th, at 7:00 p.m. at Ambler’s borough hall.

Earlier today, Hughes took to Facebook to share a post that outlines when speech can be deemed an actual threat. Don’t worry, everyone! Stomsky didn’t mention any specific martyrs, just some generalizations!

Mayor Jeanne Sorg and the rest of the mayors in Montgomery County.

This is really the most damning. Back in January, an elected official in Towamencin Township got the social media treatment after making a Nazi salute on a video. Laura Smith resigned after the uproar, but claimed she was merely making light of the situation that occurred after Elon Musk made a similar gesture. The mayors of 13 boroughs in Montgomery County, including Mayor Jeanne Sorg of Ambler, issued a joint statement condemning Smith.

Following Stomsky’s call for political violence and more martyrs, there has been no such joint statement from the mayors, and Mayor Sorg has made no statement on her own.

They must be very busy.

The Wissahickon Democratic Committee

The Wissahickon Democratic Committee also took to Facebook after Smith’s resignation and shared an article from The Philadelphia Inquirer. There is no such post about Stomsky’s original statement, nor her resignation from a leadership position within the Wissahickon Democratic Committee.

They also must be very busy.

To top the day off, Council President Glynnis Siskind has released another statement that fails to condemn Stomsky’s remarks.

As I shared in my previous statement, the individual opinions that Ambler Borough’s elected officials may share on their personal social media pages do not necessarily reflect those of Ambler Borough Council or Ambler Borough. Ms. Stomsky’s recent posts/comments do not reflect those of Council, and we are glad to see that she has posted an apology and taken some corrective action. The Tax Collector in Ambler is elected by the public and Borough Council has no legal authority to remove any elected official from office.

Siskand did not respond back when we asked a follow-up whether she had discussed resignation with Stomsky.

Jennifer Stomsky

You know who also called out Smith? That is right, Jennifer Stomsky. And she did not accept Smith’s explanation. In Smith’s resignation letter, she wrote, “To allow the Township to move forward without the encumbrance of the fallout of my video, I tender my resignation from the Towamencin Township Board of Supervisors effective immediately.” Stomsky, thus far, has been unwilling to resign from her elected position of tax collector.

Stomsky also chastised Montgomery County Commissioner Tom Dibello for leaving a laughing emoji on Smith’s post. We wonder if Stomsky is willing to share the 38 people who left likes and hearts on her post?

Images – Social media posts, screengrabs from politicians’ accounts. Logo, Borough of Ambler