Ousted Board Member Slapped, Pushed Challenger on Election Day, Report Says

Getting beat at the polls has a whole new meaning in Parsippany.

According to nj.com, Parsippany-Troy Hills School District Board of Education member Sharif Shamsudin, who ran for re-election on Nov. 4, initiated a physical confrontation with one of his challengers, Andrew Choffo.

Choffo told nj.com he filed a complaint against the board member after the two got into a heated exchange outside Troy Hills Elementary School, where Choffo was handing out campaign material about 400 feet from the door. The school serves as a polling location in the township.

According to the report, Choffo was “rushed” at by Shamsudin, who began slapping the challengers hands to so he would release the campaign fliers, and pushed Choffo in the chest repeatedly, all the while yelling in his face.

The hotly-contested race saw six residents vying for three seats, including incumbents Shamsudin, Susy Golderer, and Tim Berrios. Both Shamsudin and Golderer were ousted by newcomers Choffo and George Blair.

A report was filed in the incident, according to Parsippany Police Officer Remo D’Alessandro, but no charges were filed.

According to nj.com, Choffo filed a complaint in municipal court on Friday, Nov. 7, and a court hearing is scheduled for Nov. 20.