The motives and the people behind an effort to remove Lakewood Township Committeeman Charles Cunliffe from office remain murky as those involved stay in the shadows.

Cunliffe learned on Thursday that an organization has been formed in an effort to toss the Democrat out of office.

“The Committee to Recall Charles Cunliffe” has until Dec. 12 to file a “Notice of Intention” with the Lakewood Clerk’s Office.

The recall committee took the first step in the recall process when it submitted a letter of notice to the clerk’s office, informing Cunliffe that the recall group had been formed.

The letter filed at the clerk’s office Nov. 13 was signed by three women: Audrey Faust of Huntington Drive, Janet Heulitt of Sterling Court and Clara Ward of Malvern Court.

Faust, a registered Republican, twice declined to comment, and the other two women did not return calls seeking comment. Heulitt is a registered Republican, and Ward is unaffiliated.

A source close to the recall movement said the women who signed the petition have support from a group within the Orthodox Jewish community. While there is no single issue, some people believe that Cunliffe isn’t responsive to the concerns of the Orthodox community, according to the source.

Cunliffe, re-elected to a three-year term in 2005, believes the recall movement may be related to his concerns about the influence of developers in shaping the township’s approach to growth. Another reason for the recall effort may be his support of ousted Police Director Al Peters, according to Cunliffe.

Under New Jersey law, the recall committee and registered voters can solicit signatures from other voters.

State law limits the recall effort to 160 days from the date of the notice of intention.

The petition requires the signatures of 25 percent of the township’s registered voters. That translates into about 8,900 signatures.

If the petition meets the deadlines and includes valid signatures, a recall election is scheduled for the next regular election, or a special election is held if requested by the recall committee.

APP