Five days after Ambler’s tax collector, Jennifer Stomsky, stated on social media that political violence was needed and “let’s make more martyrs.” Mayor Jeanne Sorg of Ambler has addressed Stomsky’s statement, however, somewhat indirectly.
In her statement, Sorg wrote, “Any public official who irresponsibly makes comments advocating violence and those who support it should resign their offices immediately.” Sorg never names Stomsky or the office she holds. Sorg holds two elected positions; she is also the Recorder of Deeds for Montgomery County.
Stomsky made her statement during the late evening of September 10th. AroundAmbler.com had unsuccessfully sought a statement from Sorg since early morning on September 13th.
Earlier today, Borough Council President Glynnis Siskind released a second statement that did not call for Stomsky’s resignation.
Jason Salus, the chair of the Montgomery County Democratic Committee, called directly for Stomsky’s resignation today by name.
Late on September 14th, Stomsky apologized for her remarks and shared that she resigned from a leadership position within the Wissahickon Democratic Committee. She did not resign as tax collector and remains on the ballot for the November election.
Below we will have the text of Sorg, Siskind, and Salus’ statements.
From Mayor Jeanne Sorg:
Political violence and those who advocate it are an anathema to our nation’s values and to the rule of law. Any public official who irresponsibly makes comments advocating violence and those who support it should resign their offices immediately.
Every elected official in Ambler has a duty to serve all residents with fairness, dignity, and respect. No one who encourages violence against political opponents can credibly continue in office.
Free speech does not extend to the use of public authority to promote or encourage criminal behavior. We must be crystal clear: this is never acceptable.
To the residents of Ambler, I want to be equally clear: as your Mayor I stand against any suggestion of political violence. The safety of our community is, and will always remain, my top priority. I have spoken with our Chief of Police to ensure officers remain vigilant and alert in protecting our residents.
I deeply regret that our town borough must confront this situation. But I cannot reconcile such comments with my sense of justice, nor with the trust our residents place in their public officials.
From Borough Council President Glynnis Siskind:
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.
From Montgomery County Democratic Committee Chair Jason Salus:
The inscription on the Finance Building in Harrisburg reads: “All public service is a trust given in faith and accepted in honor.”
Every party leader and elected official has a unique responsibility to turn down the rhetoric, not raise the temperature.
Political violence and incitement have no place in our public square and no home in the Montgomery County Democratic Committee. We don’t cherry-pick condemning anyone advocating for, or engaging in, political violence, ever, period, full stop. Calls for violence are a breach of the public’s trust and must be met with unequivocal denouncement.
Today I am calling on Jennifer Stomsky to resign all of her positions in the Democratic Party and her elected position as Ambler’s Tax Collector.
Photo: Jeanne Sorg, Mayor of Ambler. Note that AroundAmbler.com added the text bubble