LITTLE WILL NOT SCREEN

Freeholder Anna Little has issued a statement that she will not participate in Chairman Adam Puharic's screening process. You can read her statement in its entirety at More Monmouth Musings.
An interesting analysis of Chairman Puharic's strident response can be found at Concerned Monmouth Republican.

NAROZANICK NOT RUNNING

Should Have Been Director.


Freeholder Ted Narozanick will not be seeking an eighth term on the Board of Freeholders.
He will be missed.
Narozanick has served a total of 48 years in county government. After retiring as County Administrator, Monmouth's first, he ran for freeholder in 1985 and served seven three-year terms on the board.
Many GOPer's believe that a fitting tribute to Narozanick's many years of service to the Great County of "Munnmouth" would have been for him to serve out his final year on the board as its director, but he was outvoted 3 - 2 at the January reorganization meeting.
William Barham was chosen as director for 2006.
Some have contrasted Narozanick's calm, measured, seemingly unflappable style with Barham's brash, in-your-face, high energy style of management.
Narozanick, according to the Asbury Park Press:

...said he decided not to run because of his age and because his wife, Margaret, is very ill. He said he had considered running for another term.
"I thought about it," Narozanick said, "but with my wife's condition now, I thought that I did my best to serve the county. Now I can spend my time with her."

Ted will leave some very big shoes to fill, and it will be interesting to see just what the party leadership does to see that they are filled.

The vast editorial staff here at the Monmouth County Republican Blog thanks Freeholder Theodore J. Narozanick for his many years of service to Monmouth County and Englishtown before that, and our thoughts and good wishes go with Ted and Marge always.

NAZZOLINA?

Today's Asbury Park Press contains an article on this year's Republican County Convention, scheduled for Saturday April 8.
The article states:

Anna Little, who was chosen in February to fill an unexpired term on the board, will likely be given the party endorsement by acclamation, Niemann said. But Narozanick will have to face a screening committee if he seeks re-election.
"Competition is good," Niemann said. "Competition assures that incumbents never take their position for granted and are responsive to the people as can be."

And:

(Surrogate Marie)Muhler also will be subject to the nomination process if she seeks another term, Niemann said.

The article then goes on to describe who would vote at the convention:

Members of the Republican County committee, county elected officials, constitutional officers (which include the surrogate, sheriff and county clerk) and municipal chairmen will all be allowed to vote to pick the party's candidates, Niemann said. Elected municipal officials and Republicans elected to serve in nonpartisan towns will be allowed to vote this year for the first time, Niemann said. About 1,000 Republicans will vote to pick the candidates.

While it is on record now that Chairman Niemann will in fact invoke the "Barham Corollary" as pertains to Freeholder Anna Little, but will allow competition should Freeholder Ted Narozanick or Surrogate Marie Muhler seek reelection.

Shouldn't he use the "Barham Corollary" on all three? Shouldn't it apply to any incumbent seeking reelection? Or not?

And what about the municipal officials? Should that only be limited to Republicans elected on a partisan ballot? This would exclude officials from towns like Ocean, Long Branch and Keansburg. Or should those Republicans elected in a non-partisan form of government be included? And will this include registered Republicans elected as independents in an otherwise partisan town, like Howell's Councilman Bob Walsh?

Will a committeeperson who is also an elected official have two votes?

I believe we need some clarification here. Maybe the recently very quiet "Ronald Reagan" can weigh in here and bring us all up to date.

What's your opinion?

IS HE IS OR IS HE AIN'T A CANDIDATE?

Speculation has been swirling around Freeholder Ted Narozanick. Monmouth Republicans await his decision with baited breath. Will he seek a new term or retire?
The latest on that question came at the March 9th Freeholders meeting. When a member of the public mentioned the veteran freeholder's expected retirement from the Board, Narozanick replied, "Well, I haven't decided on that yet."