When you think of white supremacists, you usually think of people living in Idaho or some other faraway place, said Don Reichman, one of a handful of Jews who call tiny Hopewell Borough home. So it was something of a shock to discover that his neighbor, Marc Moran, is an active member of the National Alliance, a West Virginia-based white-supremacist group that rails against Jews, blacks, gays, and anyone who would deny the superiority of the "white race."

"It's definitely a little unsettling to know he's around," Reichman said.

The 43-year-old Moran, who was unanimously appointed to the Hopewell Borough Council on Monday, July 7, came under a firestorm of protest after a report in the Hopewell Valley News revealed that he is not only an activist with the National Alliance, but a frequent contributor to an online hate publication, the Vanguard News Network — "VNN. No Jews. Just Right."

At first, Moran dug in his heels, saying he would not resign, but the outcry over his appointment grew, coming from Republicans and Democrats alike, including Republican state party chairman Sen. Joseph Kyrillos of Middletown and Gov. James E. McGreevey. On Saturday, Moran caved in to the pressure and resigned his council seat.

A former stand-up comic with an engineering degree, Moran had been appointed to fill out the unexpired council term of David Nettles, who had moved on to become Hopewell Borough mayor. In the spring primary, Moran won an uncontested drive to become the Republican nominee for the open council seat in the November elections. But the protest over his white-supremacist ties led him to announce that he would also withdraw from that race.

Moran failed to respond to NJJN's calls to his Hopewell Borough home on Monday and, in fact, a call on Tuesday revealed that his phone has since been disconnected.

A search of some of Moran's articles posted on a Web site in the Vanguard network — www.overthrow.com  — revealed one article in which he refers to "nickel-grubbing Kikes" and another in which he describes passing on his views about Jews to his young son. "Hanukkah was like most Jewish celebrations — a celebration of the murder and destruction of their enemies," Moran tells his son in the article. In still another article, he castigates "the homosexual, the feminist, the illegal immigrant, and the Jew, who think they can call the shots."

"It's pretty scary and quite disturbing that this guy wrote the stuff he wrote and apparently believes what he believes," said Reichman, who teaches math and computer science at Mercer County Community College. "It's quite scary to know that this guy is around here and was somewhat in a position of power. But it's also sort of gratifying how quickly the community mobilized against him."

Shai Goldstein, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, said that the ADL has been tracking Moran for some time. He noted that the National Alliance, which has pockets of support in Bergen, Hunterdon, Warren, Ocean, and northern Mercer counties, is the most active white supremacist group operating in New Jersey today.

"Being involved in the National Alliance is identical to being involved in the Nazi Party or the Aryan Nation or the Christian Identity Movement," said Goldstein. "They all have an 'Aryan' philosophy that ultimately calls for the genocide of Jews — wiping Jews off the face of the earth."

But Moran's hate isn't limited to Jews, according to Goldstein. He said he has read articles in which Moran indicates that he is sickened by the sight of a person of color walking hand-in-hand with a white person, and protests the fact that his children must attend school with Jews, blacks, and homosexuals. "He embraces all the pernicious and vile philosophy of the Aryan perspective," Goldstein said, "including that Israel has no right to exist."

When the news of Moran's ties to the National Alliance first broke, the ADL director said, he was concerned about the fact that two members of the Hopewell Borough Council seemed undisturbed by it. "Initially, there was an underwhelming response," Goldstein said, "but that changed over time and unfolded very quickly, and we're glad that it did."

Stephen Flatow, chair of the Community Relations Committee of the United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ, also weighed in against Moran, whom he referred to as "an equal-opportunity bigot."

"Obviously, I'm glad he saw the light to step down from the position," Flatow said. "This type of membership in a hate organization in this country really is out of place, and I'm glad he had the common sense to back away from a disastrous situation."

Mayor: 'It's a relief'

Scott Gansl of Trenton, president of the Philadelphia-based World Congress of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Jews, also welcomed the news of Moran's resignation. "From our perspective, of course, we deplore intolerance of all types, whether anti-Semitic, anti-gay or racist," said Gansl. "Shame on the Hopewell Borough Council for not doing background research on an anti-Semite ... and appointing him to a position of authority. I'm very happy to hear he's resigned."

The mayor of Hopewell Borough is happy, too. When NJJN asked Nettles how he was feeling about the Moran matter, he replied, "I'm better now — since Mr. Moran resigned. I'm glad that part of it is over. It's a relief.

"No one had any idea about this guy or I wouldn't have nominated him for council and council would not have elected him," he said. "Considering how messy it could have been, I think council handled it well and the community handled it well."

In fact, said Nettles, most of Hopewell's 2,035 residents were up in arms over Moran's appointment. He described the town as pretty diverse, with a small black population, a few Jewish families, some Hispanic families, and several "alternative lifestyle couples."

"The reaction has been pretty much unanimous — from Jews, gentiles, blacks and whites," he said. "The reaction was pretty much outrage from all points of the community. In a way, it's a good thing. It's getting people interested in local politics again. If we weren't out pleading with anybody to run, this probably wouldn't have happened."

One Hopewell Borough resident who shares that outrage is photographer Lewis Kassel, who describes himself as "one of the few Jews in town."

"We were outraged, actually, by the revelation," Kassel said. "It really took me aback. Certainly, as a Jew, you always know that somebody doesn't like you somewhere. But I've been living here for 18 years in this town, and whoever doesn't like me I don't know. I have never experienced any anti-Semitism in this town, so to have this man be so blatant in his views was a little bit scary."

Still, said Kassel, he is glad that Moran and his views came to light. "It got everybody thinking," he said, "and the town, for the most part, rallied around diversity. The councilman who had originally said it didn't matter took that back. The community acted decently."

Marilyn Silverstein can be reached at .

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