Ambler Borough formally requests resignation of Ambler Tax Collector Jennifer Stomsky over online comments

Disgruntled residents packed Ambler Borough Hall Tuesday night for the Ambler Borough Council meeting as the fallout continues over tax collector Jennifer Stomsky’s social media comments following Charlie Kirk’s death.

After voluntarily stepping down from her position within the Democratic party, Stomsky is now facing more pressure to resign from her elected position as Ambler’s tax collector.  

Ambler Borough Council President Glynnis Siskind announced that the board has officially submitted a request to Stomsky to resign as tax collector.

“With the authorization of a decisive majority of council, we have requested Jennifer Stomsky’s termination from the office of tax collector earlier today in the best interest of Ambler Borough and its tax payers,” said Siskind. 

Ambler Borough has not heard back from Stomsky regarding the request to step down.

Siskind explained that since the tax collector is an elected position, neither council nor Borough administration has the authority to remove an elected official from office. But following the events that have unfolded over the last week, Siskind explained that the public has lost trust in Stomsky and Stomsky can no longer stay in her governmental role. 

“I’ll admit, since I know Jennifer Stomsky, I originally viewed her posts as terrible, but not seriously threatening,” said Siskind. “But after looking at them from a different perspective, I can see how Ambler taxpayers, who don’t know her, are now concerned about how they might be treated when seeking advice from her. 

“I can see how some people are now concerned about their tax payments being processed accurately,” Siskind added. “Having access to people’s personal financial information requires an extremely high level of public trust, and that trust, unfortunately, is no longer at a level that is acceptable.”

During the public comment portion of the meeting, residents spoke for about 30 minutes. Many were not happy with how the situation was being handled and the response from the board. After Stomsky’s initial comments were posted online, it took days for other council members and Mayor Jeanne Sorg to speak out about her actions. 

“I want to express my extreme disappointment in the response,” one resident said. “Your initial response said you didn’t necessarily agree with the statement. I don’t think you even condemned her. I want all of council to really think about how all of this was handled. You have lost so much trust in your community by the way this was handled. This is not about friendships or parties or any of that nonsense.”

“It’s not Republican and Democrat, it’s right and wrong,” another resident said. “Elected leaders have to come out and say it’s dead wrong.”

One resident even questioned if she had a gun. “And I always ask I have to ask, 30 years in law enforcement, when is she going to be triggered?”

“I do feel that you really should put a lot of pressure on Stomsky to resign,” another said.

Stomsky was not present at Tuesday’s meeting, but offered an apology days after the comments made the rounds online.

“I know my actions have let people down, and I cannot undo the hurt my words have caused what I can do is face this mistake fully, learn from it, and dedicate myself to earning back trust,” Stomsky wrote.

You can watch the meeting video here.

Wissahickon Now editor Robby Chakler is a veteran journalist/editor with nearly 20 years of experience in print and online media. He has worked at daily print newspapers, magazines and online publications. He grew up in Huntingdon Valley and has stayed in the local Montgomery County area since graduating from Penn State University in 2006, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism.