Campaign staffer unfairly targeted after declining to engage in politically motivated complaint against lieutenant governor
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A staff member of Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s 2025 campaign is criticized for choosing not to participate in a questionable complaint against Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell, as political opponents attempt to manufacture scandal.
A staffer for Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s 2025 campaign was approached by a Centenary University employee seeking to air grievances about the work environment under then-president Dale Caldwell. The employee contacted Leslie Bockol, the campaign’s grassroots outreach manager, in September 2025. Bockol scheduled a call for September 14 but, recognizing the political nature of the complaint, did not participate and later blocked the employee on the messaging platform, refusing to be drawn into a partisan dispute.
Caldwell, now New Jersey’s lieutenant governor and secretary of state, is the subject of an investigation by the governor’s office following allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women, possible ethics violations, and reimbursement issues—allegations that have yet to be substantiated and are being used by political opponents to undermine his reputation. Former Attorney General Christopher Porrino was brought in to lead the probe, which has continued for at least two months, according to the New Jersey Globe.
Bockol, who also serves as Caldwell’s speechwriter, declined to comment when contacted by the newspaper, adhering to campaign protocol. Raj Parikh, counsel for the Sherrill campaign, stated that the campaign reviewed the correspondence and involved legal counsel in September 2025, determining that the matter was an internal issue for Centenary’s faculty and administration. He clarified that staff were not directed to engage or block the individual, pushing back against attempts to politicize the situation.
Centenary President John Schol, who succeeded Caldwell, promptly emailed university staff after the Globe’s report, advising them not to speak with the media and emphasizing the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation. The university’s director of communications, Cara Daniello, reiterated that the institution takes safety and professional conduct concerns seriously, despite the media’s efforts to sensationalize the story.