The Edison Democratic Organization boss says he won't support a councilwoman in her quest for a second term.
Edison Councilwoman Sapana Shah EDISON -- The first Asian-Indian woman to serve on Edison's township council could be frozen out come re-election after a dust up with fellow Democrats.
Sapana Shah, an outspoken first-term councilwoman who has disagreed with her party on a number of issues, appeared to irk Edison's democratic chairman anew this month when she sent out an email blast asking people to publicly support her re-election effort.
The email asked the recipients, mainly local and state political figures, to make positive comments about her to news reporters and to accompany her on visits to the homes of Democratic Committee members. Those members choose candidates to run in the June primary.
"I have decided to screen for council and would like your support. I wanted to see if all of you would publicly endorse me in the newspapers and then if you had some time -- to walk with me to various committee members' homes," Shah wrote in the email, which was obtained by NJ Advance Media.
"Screening for council" is an interview process with the party's committee. The committee ultimately votes and selects the candidate it wants to run in the party's primary.
The move rankled Keith Hahn, chairman of Edison's Democratic Organization, who, on Tuesday, responded to Shah with an email also obtained by NJ Advance Media.
"Good luck in your endeavor screening for council; I will, however, not be endorsing you publicly," Hahn wrote.
The email was sent to members of the township council, Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak (D-Middlesex), Mayor Thomas Lankey and other political figures in the township.
Edison Democratic Party Chairman Keith Hahn In a telephone interview, Hahn said he took the position, despite the party's tradition of remaining neutral in the screening process, because Shah had broken with party practice by seeking public support from members of the township's Democratic Committee in newspapers.
Shah could not be reached after multiple attempts seeking comment.
Hahn believes Shah should have let the screening process play out and allow the Democratic Committee decide whether to back her in the primary in June.
Several township officials and council members have remained silent on the matter.
Councilman Joseph Coyle said he preferred not to comment on whether he would support Shah in the screening process. Councilman Robert Diehl did not return a call seeking comment. Council President Michael Lombardi also declined to comment.
In an e-mailed statement from the mayor, Lankey said, "It is the Democratic Committee's responsibility to decide who runs for township council. I have no comment on the matter."
Councilman Leonard Sendelsky briefly said that he is a team player and is "willing to go with what the party decides to do."
"The committee people are the ones that (vote)," he said. "If they think she's been doing a good job and they feel she is doing good, then they will nominate her."
Council Vice President Alvaro Gomez did not return requests seeking comment.
Last year, Shah made a bid for a seat left vacant in the state Assembly's 18th Legislative District. In an interview with the Observer during her campaign, she said she was not ashamed to stand up for her beliefs and that she felt it was her duty to be outspoken and not compromise her values.
In August 2014, Shah was the lone no vote against the township's budget, which included a 9-percent property tax levy increase.
And, a month earlier, she was engaged in a dispute with a local clergyman whom she said was using coded language to unfairly stigmatize South Asians and Indians, previous reports said.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.