‘Retire or be fired’: Jackson employee says Mayor Kuhn forced her out after she refused to break the law

Jackson, NJ – A longtime township employee has filed a sweeping civil lawsuit against Jackson Township and its leadership, alleging retaliation, harassment, and wrongful termination after she refused to comply with what she describes as politically motivated and unlawful directives.

Marianne Horta, the township’s former Personnel Officer and Purchasing Agent, filed the complaint in Ocean County Superior Court on November 18, 2025, naming the Township of Jackson, former Mayor Michael Reina, and current Mayor Jennifer Kuhn as defendants. The 15-page filing accuses Kuhn of creating a hostile workplace, targeting Horta and her son, and ultimately forcing her out of her job after asking her to retire rather than go through a formal termination process.

A career upended amid power shif...