Did deputy mayor’s crude Kermit ‘meme’ go too far?

HAINESPORT — The township committee candidate who believes she was the subject of a controversial "meme" image sent by Hainesport's deputy mayor says the township is not going to pursue any action.

According to the Courier-Post, Anna Evans, a Democrat in the Republican-majority town, was sent earlier in July a screenshot of  a meme image posted by Hainesport's deputy mayor, Anthony Porto.

The newspaper said the meme showed Kermit the Frog, drinking from a bottle and the caption, “Aww, you’re spreading rumors about me. At least you found a hobby spreading something other than your legs (expletive).”

Evans believes that the image was directed at her, and the deputy mayor seemed to begin to say he regretted posting the image at a recent meeting, the newspaper reported. Evans, said she filed a complaint with the township, but the township committee has not shared an opinion on the matter from its counsel, according to the report.

Porto and Evans have not yet returned calls from New Jersey 101.5 seeking comment.

According to Porto's bio on the Hainesport website, he is a tax administrator for Hunterdon County.

Evans wrote on her Facebook page that "the township is not pursuing my complaint against Tony Porto on the grounds he has freedom of speech."

She wrote that the township did not tell her its decision, but she read it on Porto's wife's Facebook page.

"This is totally inappropriate and disrespectful, and illustrates a lack of following the correct chain of command and communication procedures within the committee," she wrote.

Another township resident, Jaime Kennedy, said in another Facebook post he's supported Porto in the past but disgusted by the deputy mayor's conduct.

Politics as usual? The person who posted the original meme, I am EMBARASSED to say, I supported a number of times," he wrote. "Anna M. Evans is not a member of my political affiliation but that does not mean I will stand by idly and allow a male (because the word man would denote that he had manners, ethics, and morality....none of that Anthony Porto possesses). I hope the township of Hainesport wakes up to this nonsense and impeaches him!

"And he should be questioned by an ethics committee in the county position he holds in Hunterdon County too! Folks, it's not about Anna being a Democrat and me being a Republican. ... It's about being a decent human being and knowing acceptable social media postings from elected officials."