Cherry Hill Council Appoints New Member After Jacobs Resignation

CHERRY HILL, NJ — A Cherry Hill resident of 30 years who has experience in public service has been appointed to fill a recently vacated council seat.

On Monday night, William A. Carter III was appointed to replace Carolyn Jacobs on Cherry Hill Council. Jacobs recently resigned after making comments she has acknowledged as racially insensitive during a public meeting.

“I am humbled and honored for the appointment and the opportunity to serve,” Carter said. “A long time ago, I learned that you learn more when you listen than when you talk. As long as I am on council, I will listen first and serve all Cherry Hill residents to the best of my ability.”

Carter will run in a special election this November to fill the remainder of the term, which expires next year.

Carter, a construction engineer who has served on the planning, zoning and school boards in Cherry Hill, was chosen from among three people selected by the municipal Democratic Committee.

He, Lorraine Maitland and Anna Postiloff were all selected as possible replacements for Jacobs, whose resignation has been shrouded in controversy.

During the June 8 council meeting, Jacobs said "even animals know they don't mess their own dens," in response to looting and rioting in Philadelphia, according to the Courier Post.

Council asked for and received Jacobs’ resignation. She also issued her own statement of apology. Read more here: Cherry Hill Councilwoman Resigns Over Racial Comment

“She has given much of herself, devoted herself to Cherry Hill, but words do matter, especially those of public officials,” Cherry Hill Council President David Fleisher said. “We will all emerge stronger as a community on the other side of this.”

According to Fleisher, she resigned on June 13, but former school board candidate Yonaton Yares was concerned the resignation wasn’t made public until June 19.

“It should’ve been announced more publicly,” Yares said during the public comment portion of Monday night’s meeting.

Yares said all registered Democrats should’ve been notified of the vacancy and given more of an opportunity to apply for the position. He said the way council handled the last two vacancies were not open and transparent.

Camden County Republican Chairman Rich Ambrosino said he wonders why the Democrats kept the incident quiet for nearly two weeks.

“For a party that acts so righteous, especially on issues related to women and race, one would think Camden County Democrats would be more proactive exposing these types of incidents,” Ambrosino said in a statement Tuesday morning. “They certainly shouldn’t be trying to hide them.”

Tina Truitt, the president of the Cherry Hill African American Civic Association, supported the council for taking the proactive step to ask for Jacobs’ resignation.

“Her comments were inappropriate and offensive,” Truitt said. “The Civic Association has had several discussions about implicit bias and systemic racism and holding all individuals accountable when found of wrongdoing.”