Welp, I didn’t have this on my bingo card.

The mayor and all four council members in New Jersey‘s East Hanover township are switching from the Democrat to Republican Party, in a move they say is in the “best interest of the community.” Moreover, the veteran mayor went straight bottom-line on why they decided to kick the Democrat Party to the curb.

As reported by the New Jersey Globe, East Hanover Mayor Joseph Pannullo and all four members of the township council will switch from Democrat to Republican, marking a complete party flip in the township of 11,105 people. Joining Pannullo in switching parties are Council President Frank DeMaio, Jr, Councilwoman Carolyn Jandoli, and Councilmen Brian Brokaw, Sr. and Michael Martorelli.

Here's something you don't see every day…https://t.co/ETcjEjqolC

(photo credit: Parsippany Democrats) pic.twitter.com/X5TA8AZBYd

— MikesRight (@RealLibSmacker) February 9, 2023

Pannullo told the Globe that he and the councilmembers finally decided to switch parties due to poisonous vitriol infiltrating state and national politics — compliments of “you know who”:

“Municipal leaders have a responsibility to best represent their constituents, and it is our belief this change of party is in the best interest of the community,” Mayor Joseph Pannullo said Tuesday, according to The New Jersey Globe.

As the nastiness, rhetoric, and social media vitriol of national politics continues to infiltrate local governance, we collectively determined this was the best course of action to keep the focus on local issues impacting our community — combating the overburdening and unrealistic fair-share housing mandates, keeping taxes stable, enhancing our parks and investing in public safety needs to be our local priorities.

“Every decision my administration makes is about putting East Hanover first,” the mayor added, [and] “this is no different.”

I’m sure I’d call it remarkable, particularly given the state of bitterness and politics of personal destruction that continues to metastasize throughout the ever-more-leftist Democrat Party, but unlike a single Democrat switching party affiliation here and there, the mayor and an entire town council flipping the switch is something you don’t see every day. What a “shame” if it continues, huh?

The move makes sense from the perspective of the township’s residents. While Democrats have long dominated the local government of East Hanover, in recent state and national elections the town has overwhelmingly supported Republicans, including voting for former President Donald Trump by 66 percent in 2020.

Morris County GOP Chair Laura Marie Ali credited Hanover Mayor Ace Gallagher with convincing the East Hanover officials to make the switch:

The entire Republican Party in Morris County is welcoming Mayor Pannullo and East Hanover’s four Council members to our family with open arms and great excitement. East Hanover is an exceptionally run town with great leadership. It is clear we share the same values as Mayor Pannullo and his Council and we are so excited to have them be part of our Republican family.

East Hanover Republican municipal chair, former Councilwoman Sue Tietjen, also welcomed the new Republican officeholders, telling the Globe: “We will work together moving East Hanover forward.”

Finally, “transplanted Democrat” Assistant Senate Minority Leader Joseph Pennacchio (R-Montville), whose new legislative district will include East Hanover, saluted the five-seat flip and said he’s looking forward to working with Team Pannullo.

Whether you are a lifelong Republican or a transplanted Democrat such as me, you are immediately welcomed and accepted without hesitation. I look forward to working with my new Republican friends to make East Hanover an even better place to live.

Nice rhetoric, but let’s hope the people of East Hanover see get the results they want.

The Bottom Line

Call me a skeptic, but the question begs to be asked: Does “Team Pannullo” genuinely share the values of Morris County’s Republicans? I don’t know, but I do know this:

Mayor Pannullo is more than aware that two-thirds of the voters in his township now vote Republican, so it doesn’t take a proverbial rocket scientist to figure this one out, if not.