Sussex GOP calls for resignation of county commissioner. This is why

NEWTON - The Sussex County Republican Party has called on county Commissioner William Hayden to resign his position citing the growing controversy over "stolen valor" and allegations he falsely claimed to be a Navy Seal who was wounded on a "secret mission" in Africa.

Joining the call Thursday was the District 24 legislators, state Sen. Parker Space, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia and Assemblyman Michael Inganamort, adding their voices to the chorus in a released statement.

Fantasia was a member of the county board, but resigned following her election to the state legislature last year. Inganamort is from Chester Borough, Morris County, in the southern part of District 24.

Space, also a former member of the board when it was known as the Board of Chosen Freeholders, moved from the county position to a state Assembly member before his election as senator in 2023. His wife, Jill Space, is commissioner director, a post elected by the Board of Commissioners each year.

"We echo the sentiments of Sussex County Republican Committee Chairman Joseph Labarbera and call upon Commissioner William Hayden to do the honorable thing and resign from the Sussex County Board of Commissioners.

"Unfortunately, Commissioner Hayden has disgraced himself by his actions and words, and as such has lost the public's trust. He needs to do right by our veterans and those currently serving in the armed forces, the voters who supported him, Sussex County government, and the Sussex County Republican Committee and leave office immediately."

The state legislators release, and the statement from the county GOP organization, came following a Wednesday commissioners meeting at which several speakers called for Hayden's resignation, at most, and at least, a formal apology.

At the previous commissioner meeting, the board voted 4-0 (Hayden left before the meeting commenced) on a resolution of censure, citing not only the "stolen valor" claims but also apparent threats against at least one fellow commissioner and an improper relationship with county employees.

In an email response to written questions from the Herald late Thursday afternoon, Hayden wrote: " I will have to refer these questions to my attorney, who's handling a criminal complaint regarding this as well as a civil matter." A message left for his attorney was not immediately returned.

The dust-up between Hayden and the other commissioners - and the party in general - has been brewing in public since last year when Hayden made accusations of the theft of possibly millions of dollars from the "county" food pantry which operates in the back of the county office building and staffed and run by volunteers.

In a Thursday noontime statement, party chairman Joe Labarbera said the committee's "shared evaluation indicates that Commissioner Hayden has not been forthright regarding his military service and has demonstrated a lack of integrity in dealings with his supporters and colleagues since his election.

"The Sussex County Republican Party urges Commissioner Hayden to step down due to actions that have tarnished the reputation of our party, the country, and disappointed the electorate."

Hayden, supported by the county Tea Party, challenged then state Sen. Steve Oroho in the 2017 GOP primary, losing by a 7,865-2,676 margin. Hayden ran for his current commissioner post in 2022 and would seek re-election next year.

The party's statement continued: "After confirming various accounts from individuals who have known him for years, family relations through marriage, and our own direct experiences where he informed Sussex County Republican leaders, numerous volunteers, and elected officials, and claimed in public meetings to have combat experience, we found Freedom of Information Act requests showing he was never a Navy SEAL or served in the Naval Service. We conclude that he has disrespected all veterans and misrepresented himself to our party and the public."

While "tavern talk" or "barroom bragging" is not a crime, the GOP statement notes potentially more serious and possible criminal issues which could face Hayden from "seemingly legal disclosure" of his state tax returns.

That disclosure, the statement claims, "show he has possibly met the criteria for stolen valor by asking for the New Jersey Veteran's credit for tax exemption."

"Unless Hayden can show a DD-214 (formal discharge from military service), it appears he has never once served his country in the Uniform(ed) Services," the statement says that without that form, "it is established that he has not been a member of the Naval Service."

According to the statement, the party has a copy of an audio recording which claims to have him talking with "a significant Democratic Party strategist in this county," and, the statement alleges that on the recording Hayden "falsely accuses fellow Republicans of criminal activities, actions that, to our knowledge, could constitute illegal defamation.

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"It appears he engages in this behavior to curry favor with the Democratic strategist, offering to act as a conduit for confidential information to the Sussex Democratic Party," the statement claims. In a conversation earlier this week, Party Chair Labarbera was more blunt, calling Hayden "a Democratic mole."

The GOP statement notes he also compares himself to Serpico, the noted New York City police officer who became a renowned "whistleblower."

"We as the Sussex Republican Party Leadership refute any notions that Hayden is a whistleblower being retaliated against, as the evidence of his malfeasance is demonstratively valid to any reasonable person," the statement notes.

The statement then switches to providing an excuse for Hayden's actions by noting "the negative impact on William Hayden from an out-of-state political consultant with a vengeful agenda poses a risk to his reputation, particularly due to the years of inconsistent and skewed information that seems to align with the interests of his current players."

The statement does not identify the "out-of-state consultant."

However, there are clues dropped that the consultant is a contributor to Sussex County Watchdog and Jersey Conservative blogs and was a paid consultant for Sussex County Republican candidates.

The statement notes that the consultant in 2017 "called out Hayden's education level and lack of military experience and attacked him in defense of the very same office holders he now so opportunistically denounces."

That is the year which Hayden ran against Oroho and, the statement notes the consultant denounced Hayden as "not having a LEGAL High School Diploma" and "doesn't have any military achievements."

"Hayden's betrayal of friends, supporters, voters and the county is clearly evident at this point," the closing paragraph begins. "If there is one honorable thing left for him to do, it is to resign and cease disgracing the office of County Commissioner. Enough."

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Sussex County NJ GOP calls for resignation of commissioner