Pemberton Township Mayor Concedes Defeat After Viral Council Confrontation
Matthew Bianchini, who was physically restrained while charging at a resident in October, lost the mayoral race to Belinda Fontanez with just over 30 percent of the vote.
By Sakura Novak ·
New Jersey residents in Pemberton Township will have a new mayor starting next year. Matthew Bianchini, the Republican mayor who drew national attention for physically lunging at a resident during a council meeting, conceded the election to Democratic challenger Belinda Fontanez on Wednesday.
In a Facebook post, Bianchini acknowledged the unofficial results, stating that the voters had spoken clearly. He offered Fontanez his congratulations and pledged full support for a smooth transition of power. "I care deeply about the future of this township, and its success matters far more than any single election," he wrote.
Bianchini received just over 30 percent of the vote, a decisive loss in the race. He assumed the mayoral role earlier this year after his predecessor resigned. He will continue to serve in the position until the end of 2026, at which point Fontanez is expected to take over.
The confrontation that defined Bianchini’s final months in office occurred during an October council meeting. Video footage shows the mayor being restrained by other individuals as he moved toward resident Michael Sawka. The incident began after Sawka appeared to make a hand gesture at Bianchini. Bianchini could be heard shouting, "I am f, in' gettin' you!" before being pushed back.
Bianchini has offered mixed accounts of his reaction. In an interview with WPVI, he said he "basically snapped" and admitted he should not have said what he did, though he maintained that his actions were justified. "Was it wrong? Absolutely. Was it justified? Absolutely," he told the station. He also told the outlet that he would do it again if necessary.
On social media, the mayor defended his instinct to protect his family. He noted that Sawka had previously directed verbal abuse toward his wife and daughter and followed those comments with a hand gesture. "If you attack my family," Bianchini wrote on Facebook, "I will act." His wife, who was present in the audience, commented on a local news post, saying she understood his "protection mode" as a parent and spouse.
Sawka denied making comments directed at Bianchini’s family. He told WPVI that he had only been trying to demonstrate how the township was wasting money. He claimed that Bianchini’s stepchildren and daughter had frequently attacked him online with personal critiques. Bianchini described Sawka as a long-standing thorn in the township’s side, noting a history of friction between the two men.
