Monday, January 30, 2006

SO. WHAT ABOUT CONGRESS?

Monmouth County is divided among three congressional districts: The Fourth, Sixth and Twelfth. All three seats are up for reelection this year.

The Fourth District consists of Allentown, Brielle, Colts Neck, Farmingdale, Freehold Borough, part of Freehold Township, Howell, Manasquan, Millstone, Roosevelt, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights, Upper Freehold and Wall. The Fourth has been ably represented since 1981 by Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R), the dean of the New Jersey Congressional delegation. We at the Monmouth County Republican Blog believe that Congressman Smith will seek another two-year term.

The Sixth District includes Aberdeen, Allenhurst, Asbury park, Atlantic Highlands, Avon, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Deal, Hazlet, Highlands, Interlaken, Keansburg, Keyport, Lake Como, Loch Arbour, Long Branch, part of Manalapan, part of Marlboro, Matawan, part of Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Neptune, Neptune City, Ocean, Red Bank, Sea Bright, Union Beach and West Long Branch.
This district is a successor to the old Third District, held for many years by the late Rep. Jim Howard (D); upon Howard's death in 1988, Frank Pallone, his protege, was elected. Howard's original claim to fame was his ability to win in a Republican district; redistricting over the years has left the district strongly Democratic. Today's district snakes its way like a follow-the-dot gone awry through many of Central Jersey's Democratic bastions, from Asbury Park and Long Branch through South Amboy, New Brunswick and Highland Park to Piscataway and Plainfield.

The Twelfth District consists of Eatontown, Englishtown, Fair Haven, part of Freehold Township, Holmdel, Little Silver, part of Manalapan, part of Marlboro, part of Middletown, Oceanport, Rumson, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township and Tinton Falls.
Long represented by Republicans like Jim Courter and Dick Zimmer, the Twelfth is now represented by Democrat Rush Holt. When Zimmer ran (unsuccessfully) for U. S. Senate in 1996, conservative Somerset County Freeholder Michael Pappas (R) was elected to the seat. While many believe Pappas' singing of "Twinkle Twinkle Kenneth Starr" on the House floor did him in, others believe it was a group of "moderate" Republicans working against him; indeed, liberal Republican lobbyist Hazel Gluck was open in her denunciation of Pappas. It is said that the moderates had hoped that in defeating Pappas, a Democrat would only last for one term in that district and then a moderate could then reclaim the seat. If that was in fact the plan, it backfired badly, as Holt is in his fourth term!

So, has anybody out there heard any names thrown about? I'm sure that Chris Smith will run for reelection, but what about the other districts?
Who wants to run against Pallone? Will it be an unknown like Sylvester Fernandes? Will it be Fernandes? A big name? Monmouth, Middlesex or Union? Will Pallone run unopposed?
How about in the Twelfth? That district runs all the way out to the Delaware River, folks. Parts of five counties. Anyone know who's running there? Is Bill Spadea going for it again? Buster Soaries? An unknown? Who? Will Holt run unopposed?
Let us know your opinion on the congressional races. And you people from the other counties can chime right in, too; these districts overlap some serious territory.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

The only reason why Holt got a second term was because Pappas couldn't get a clue and not run again. Republicans wasted more than a million in a nasty primary that could have been spent against holt to whom zimmer only lost by 500 votes after a lengthy recount. In reality, Pappas lost two races and a solid Republican district for the infinite future.

Anonymous said...

Dibella was unaware of the available congressional seat or he would have declared for it.

Anonymous said...

Not his district.

Anonymous said...

Doesn't need to live there until he is elected.

Anonymous said...

Doesn't even need to live there then.

Anonymous said...

The only constitutional requirement is to be a resident of the State.

Honest Abe said...

See? Like Pavlov's dogs.

Art Gallagher said...

Anonymous said...
"The only constitutional requirement is to be a resident of the State. "

If that is the case, could DiBella run against both Holt and Pallone?

Anonymous said...

Lyndon Johnson, Lloyd Bensten and Joe Lieberman ran for two offices simultaneously.

Anonymous said...

Republicans fight for Handlin's Freeholder seat
Elected to the Assembly after a bitter primary fight with Joseph Azzolina, Amy Handlin vacated her Monmouth County Freeholder seat on January 24th, triggering a Special Election Convention to fill her seat. The winner of the contest, called for February 25th at the suitably named Battle Ground Country Club in Manalapan, must run for a fourteen-month unexpired term in November 2006 and again in November 2007.

Facing off are: Howell Mayor Joe DiBella, Wall Republican Chairman Bob McKenna, Marlboro Mayor Robert Kleinberg, Hazlet Committeewoman Bridget Antonucci, Highlands Councilwoman Anna Little, Spring Lake Councilman Brian Reilly, former Aberdeen Councilman Gus Toomey and Howell resident attorney Thomas DeSeno. After early entrances in the race, Holmdel Mayor Serena DiMaso, who lost a convention battle for Freeholder last year, and Howell Councilman Peter Tobasco decided not the seek Handlin's seat.

This battle is lining-up to be in the South. DiBella, who works for Commerce National Insurance, is likely to have a close fight with McKenna. Before moving to Howell, DiBella lived in Middlesex County, where he was a Sayreville Councilman. He was Monmouth GOP Chairman Fred Niemann's unofficial pick for the seat, but if history is any guide, his support does not mean its locked-up. Last year, another Niemann pick from Howell, Councilwoman Cindy Schomaker, was upset by Colts Neck Mayor Lillian Burry who now sits on the Freeholder Board. DiBella is considered a better public speaker then Schomaker and has tacit support from some other corners of the county.

McKenna, who helped lead the effort to remove William Dowd as GOP Chairman two years ago, has recently had a major falling out with Niemann. His firebrand style of politics and a sizable committee in Wall, however, may be very appealing to conservative county committee members. McKenna also seems to have some support amongst his former Monmouth GOP for Change Coalition, that has now turned its back on Niemann who may be challenged this June.

With nearly 100 full seats, and a committee known for block voting, the big question in the upcoming contest is who will Middletown Republican Chairman Peter Carton's delegation support. With so many candidates in the running, Middletown's vote can easily swing the outcome.

Despite a lot of encouragement to run to fill Handlin's seat with another woman from Middletown, long-time Middletown Committeewoman Rosemarie Peters is rumored to be seeking the Surrogate's seat when incumbent Marie Muhler retires. Seven-term Freeholder Ted Narozanick, perhaps the last of the Monmouth GOP's old guard, is widely expected to retire. (Rob Clifton, elected in 2004, would become the senior member of the Freeholder Board). It is rumored that Niemann is helping Kleinberg seek Narozanick's seat, but a number of county officials have been encouraging Middletown Mayor Tom Hall to run this spring.

Honest Abe said...

"(Rob Clifton, elected in 2004, would become the senior member of the Freeholder Board)"

Barham's got Rob beat by about 3 weeks on the Board.

Honest Abe said...

So.....

Anyone have anything about Congress???

Anonymous said...

But wasn't Doug mentioned before? Cool to see a Bret and Doug Primary again.