DiBELLA ALL OVER AGAIN?

William H. Seward at More Monmouth Musings has a great post today on the County Chairman's race.



In it, he lists some information about the candidates: James Giannell of Red Bank, Ed Stominski of Eatontown, Elias Abilheira of Millstone and Adam Puharic of Aberdeen. He points out that it would appear that Puharic is the candidate of the current party leadership, Fred Niemann, Dan Gallic, Norine Kelly, etc.



Will points out an item of serious concern:



"Additionally, the return address on Adam's mailing is 16 West Main Street, Freehold, NJ. Once again, the party apparatus and resources are favoring one candidate over others."



Now, this by itself would appear conclusive that "they're at it again", but there's more. The vast editorial staff here at the Monmouth County Republican Blog has received complaints from committee persons about e-mails sent to them from Adam Puharic on behalf of his campaign for chairman. What the committee members are wondering is, "How did the Puharic campaign get my e-mail address?"



How indeed?



This is an echo of an incident back in February where committee persons were spammed with e-mails from the campaign of Joe DiBella for freeholder.



Most people's concerns are that the party leadership is once again allowing the use of Republican Headquarters resources for their handpicked people.

Seward closes that Puharic "has a bright future, so long as he chooses his friends carefully." Very true. Right now, it looks like Adam has gotten in with a bad crowd.



Committee persons should consider the candidates very carefully. The individual that they choose will be entrusted with the leadership of our party for at least the next two years. It is important to show up Tuesday and let your voice be heard.



The election for chairman will be June 13th at 7:30 P.M. at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, New Jersey in the Navesink Room located inside the Warner Student Life Building, 2nd Floor. If there is a change, we will post it.

O'GRADY GUILTY!

Former Middletown Township Mayor Raymond "O'Shady" O'Grady has been found guilty on all counts, according to the APP.

All the good work O'Grady has done for Middletown, for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the VFW and other causes, has been negated by his criminal acts. He has ensured that he will be remembered mainly for being a corrupt politician.

He should have thought of the consequences for himself, his community and his family before he selfishly jumped feet first into the underworld.

DEM PAC BAGMAN PLEADS NOT GUILTY

The Asbury Park Press reports today that Charles G. Betancourt, former treasurer of the Central Jersey Democratic Leadership Council (CJDLC), has pleaded not guilty in Middlesex County Superior Court to embezzling $53,238.00 from the Democratic PAC.

The CJDLC is a Rahway-based PAC led by the oompaloompaesque Union County publisher and Bill Flynn associate James J. Devine.


Formerly, the CJDLC weBSite claimed the CJDLC is not subject to ELEC reporting as it is organized as a 527 fund. It now states, "Membership fees or gifts to the Central Jersey Democratic Leadership Council are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. They are also not subject to federal or state election law limits."

The CJDLC was a major contributor to the losing 2005 Bill Flynn - Mike DaSaro assembly campaign, and Devine was treasurer of Lenny Inzerillo's unsuccessful 2003 assembly campaign. Both campaigns were in the 13th District.

Ironically, Devine stated on the Handlin-Thompson.org website, "Donations will be deposited into the personal bank account of this website's owner/operator and will be used to defray expenses for research and reporting about the corrupt politicians to whom this site is dedicated." Guess Betancourt decided to take that one to new levels.

Betancourt is still listed as treasurer on the PAC's weBSite.

GANGSTA DEVELOPER SPALLIERO CONVENIENTLY COLLAPSES BEFORE ARRAIGNMENT!

You can't make this stuff up, folks. Like Pavlov's dogs, an impending court date seems to bring on a medical emergency in some people.

Of course, Anthony Spalliero's medical emergency is not as serious as the one he intended to give to that Brookdale student back in September. Or the one that Petra Johnson, his late ex-comare, had in Florida. Or pilot Lino Fasio.

Spalliero, who was healthy enough to pull a gun on the student, will now be arraigned on June 26. Let's hope that Superior Court Judge Bette E. Uhrmacher appoints a physician to examine him, and doesn't simply rely on the word of Spalliero's doctor and former business partner, Dr. Aaron J. Feingold. And that she doesn't go soft on him like she did with the Rev. Hughes of Rumson.

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Today marks the first anniversary of the Monmouth County Republican Blog. We began the morning after the 2005 Republican Primary, and have been going ever since. For the first few months this site languished at less than 100 hits. After the 2005 election, readership picked up with speculation on who would be Amy Handlin's replacement on the Board of Chosen Freeholders; that position would be filled by Freeholder Anna C. Little.
We began as a pro-Chairman Fred Niemann blog; the first post explains, "I am in support of Chairman Fred Niemann and what he is trying to accomplish with the organization." In the beginning, Niemann showed a lot of promise; sadly, he squandered a lot of goodwill with the rank and file and appeared to rely more and more upon his shadowy executive director, Dan Gallic of Somerset County.
For various reasons, the vast editorial staff here at the Monmouth County Republican Blog made the decision that our county GOP needed new leadership.
There are some who believe that this blog and others like it played no small part in Niemann's impending departure from the Chairmanship. Could be. What we endeavored to do here was not to bring down a chairman or anyone else, but to report the truth and foster honest debate among County Republicans. If that was Niemann's downfall, so be it.
It is said that either Niemann or Gallic started blogging under the name "Ronald Reagan"; the two blogs under that name have been defunct since the April County Convention and were in fact inactive shortly after the February Title 19 Convention. A pity, because those blogs could have been a great venue to get the message out, and could have been an asset not only to Fred, but the party organization. Some have said that the County Organization paid someone to set up those blogs; ironically this was not necessary as Blogger is a free service. Some have also questioned where the income from the ads still running on one of the sites is going. This will be but a miniscule portion of the task ahead of the new county chairman.
Hopefully the new chairman, whoever that may be, will recognize the power and usefulness of the internet and the blogosphere. The Democrats have only just begun what we've had for a year.
Thank you all for reading and commenting and I hope to see you here in the following year.
Tomorrow is the Republican Primary. Polls are open from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm. Check your sample ballot for polling place location, then go vote.

O'GRADY'S TRIAL BEGINS.

The corruption trial of former Middletown Mayor Raymond "O'Shady" O'Grady, who was busted in the FBI's "Operation Bid Rig", and could get up to 20 years in prison, began this week, and already it looks like it's going to be a circus.
As the second day of testimony was to begin, witness Anthony Palughi, in true mobster style, took ill, and was rushed to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, where there is no corruption. This recalls a case last year where gangsta developer Anthony Spalliero was said to be "near death" conveniently as his bail was about to be revoked. The ploy worked for Spalliero: Instead of a 4' x 6' jail cell, he was sent to his daughter's Hazlet home and told "wear this ankle bracelet". Said to be "near death" in September, it is unknown whether Spalliero has gotten any closer to his destination.
The basis of O'Grady's defense is that "Palughi is a liar"; it would appear that that much is true, as Palughi pleaded guilty Wednesday to making false statements. Whether it is even relevant to the charges against O'Grady remains for the jury to decide.
A number of defendants have entered guilty pleas in the Bid Rig matter, including former Marlboro Committeeman Thomas Broderick, former Hazlet Mayor Paul Coughlin, former Neptune Mayor Richard Iadanza, former County Transportation Coordinator Joseph "Joey Buses" McCurnin, Palughi and former Deputy County Fire Marshal Patsy Townsend.
Operation Bid Rig is an ongoing federal investigation into corruption in Monmouth County, which Monmouth County Democratic Boss Victor V. Scudiery referred to as "entrapment."

FRANCO IS STILL DEAD; THE CHAIRMAN IS STILL FRED

Less than two weeks out from the June 13 County Committee reorganization, and we cannot stress this enough: Fred Niemann may be down, but he's still not out. He is still the chairman until that meeting.
The behind the scenes machinations going on would be familiar to anyone who has participated in the last two county conventions, where an assortment of dark-horse candidates, stalking-horse candidates and outright red-herring candidates were in the races.
Several candidates were suspected of being nothing more than a part of an elaborate divide and conquer scheme aimed at securing the freeholder nomination for Howell Mayor Joe DiBella.
These schemes were ultimately unsuccessful, and owing to the closeness of both the February and April Convention votes, some have pondered that, without the divisive schemes and outlandish shenanigans of some of DiBella's supporters, he may have been a freeholder today.
Today finds us with several names in and out of the race for County Chairman. Sheriff Joe Oxley, the perceived frontrunner, opted not to run, leaving Red Bank's James Giannell in the apparent lead. Former Freeholder Ed Stominski and Neptune Township's Mel Hood have apparently formed a slate. Other names mentioned have included Little Silver Councilman Declan O'Scanlon, lobbyist and former DiBella campaign manager Brian Nelson, Howard Dean contributor Madeline Ferraro, and newcomers Adam Puharic of Aberdeen and Elias Abilheira of Millstone.
Several leaders said to be allied with the Niemann-Gallic group are reported to be casting about for a candidate, but so far have not found the candidate they seek.
If you are on the County Committee, or will be elected in the Primary on June 6, please pay attention to this race. It is very important. Read and listen to what the candidates say, and look at their records to get an idea of what they will do. Beware of stalking-horses. And be on the lookout for shenanigans.
The future of our party depends upon it.

WALLY EDGE

Some readers may have noticed that "The Inside Edge" has been removed from our link list.
There's a reason for this.
Wally Edge, the editor of that site, has been asleep at the switch and the nutjobs have been running wild. That had been a problem here at the Monmouth County Republican Blog; it reached the point where something had to be done. We did something about it. First, we eliminated anonymous commenting and required people to register with Blogger. When this proved insufficient, we activated "comment moderation." Now, all comments must be approved before they are published.
Some of the comments that have been rejected from this site would curl your hair, so it would appear that we have done the right thing.
Wally needs to pay attention to the comments left on his site.
It began with a comment left over three weeks ago in which an individual slandered a potential candidate for County GOP Chairman. Then, last week, a comment was left in which a colorful local publisher and sometime Democrat activist was accused of drug abuse. To compound matters, this particular commenter signed their comment with the name of a longtime Republican activist. This was followed two days later by a similar comment using a different name.
As of May 30, all of these comments remain on The Inside Edge.
Due to the anonymity of the internet, bloggers must be constantly vigilant for such abuse. While it is not always possible to trace who these comments come from, it is possible to delete them, or to institute an approval process. Wally has not done any of this.
As a result of this, the link to The Inside Edge has been removed. At such time as he removes the offending comments, and stays on top of the situation, we may re-link.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Memorial Day Weekend: What many consider the beginning of summer. The sweet aroma of barbecuin' fills the balmy Monmouth County air, as people make their way to the beach, barbecue or sale. The highways and byways of Olde Monmouth become packed with bennies bound for the shore.
As you read this, think. Think about how it became possible to go to the sales, the barbecues or the beaches. How it is possible for you to even read this and many other blogs.
In short: Love your freedom? Thank a servicemember.
But Abe, but Abe, you say, I'm so busy this weekend I can't get to any of the ceremonies.
No problem. There are other ways every bit as appropriate. When you have a moment, stop at a local cemetery. It doesn't have to be Arlington, right here in Monmouth County rest veterans of every war. Find a veteran's grave; they'll have flags on them. Then just take a moment to think about this individual's sacrifice and contribution and just say "thanks." He may have been with Washington's troops at the Battle of Monmouth, in the Long War on Terror, or any conflict in between, but pay your respects. These service men and women deserve it!
Maybe a loved one was lost to the ravages of war. Take out that family album, and maybe, as you enjoy a family barbecue, remember and celebrate the life of that person.
Our war dead gave their life for us; they did not die in vain. They live on in our freedom as Americans. Be proud of them, and let's make them proud of us!

TAXMAN CORZINE

Click for video. Hat-tip to Enlighten-New Jersey.

PUHARIC FOR CHAIRMAN?

Wally Edge reports that some unspecified Aberdeen GOP leaders are encouraging former Undersheriff Adam Puharic to run for County Chairman.
Puharic is a former municipal chairman and township committee candidate. He was a founding member of the Bayshore Republican Conference. He works as a spokesperson for Meridian Health, and heads Michael's Feat, which helps seriously ill newborn babies.
It is not known at this time whether Puharic himself is actually interested in the chairman's position or not.

UPDATE

Will Seward has interesting comments from Puharic himself.

MONDAY RANDOMNESS

Those of you who logged on this morning may have noticed something new on my sideboard. We have added a category for links to candidates' websites.
Now the Monmouth County Republican Blog has become your one-stop location for campaign information!
You will find links to the websites of Republican Campaigns. There is a link to Tom Kean's Senatorial Campaign. All the Monmouth County House races are represented: Chris Smith in the 4th District, Leigh-Ann Bellew in the 6th District and Joe Sinagra in the 12th District. (Chris' website is currently being updated.) Freeholder Anna Little's campaign website is also here. Right now we don't have any websites for Rosemarie Peters and Andrew Lucas. If anyone has that info let us know and we'll update. There is a website for Peters, Lucas and Little, but I understand the candidates are unhappy with it; if that's resolved we'll add that too.

*********

DEMS' ADVERTISING BILL PAID. FINALLY.

Readers of this blog will remember a report of $2,100.00 listed as an in-kind donation from Courier to the losing 13th Assembly campaign of William Flynn and Michael DaSaro. The following day, Jim Purcell, Courier's publisher, posted a comment that his paper makes no in-kind contributions to any campaign, and that he will make sure that the campaign paid its bills.

Well, Flynn & DaSaro finally got their ELEC reports in on May 2, and it would appear that Purcell's been paid. There are two reports filed the same day. One was an amendment to the previous report; the $2,100.00 was changed from an in-kind to an outstanding debt. The second report picked up where the first left off, and listed the payment of $1,131.40 on January 6 to Bayshore Press t/a Courier; another payment of $1,000.00 was made on March 31. So I guess that clears that up.

Flynn & DaSaro also did have to refund an excessive contribution in the amount of $654.95. This was from the Central Jersey Democratic Leadership Council (CJDLC), which is led by Union County's oompaloompaesque, goose-stepping, black helicopter theorizing, ad overcharging publisher James J. Devine, infamous for his now-defunct Handlin-Thompson.org weBSite, where he asserted, "It is hard to imagine that the best explanation for this is that Handlin got special treatment from Asbury Park Press editor Skip Hidlay because she is Jewish, but that is the most solid theory I have heard."

NO INZERILLO ELEC REPORT

Speaking of Jim Devine, back in February we reported that Lenny Inzerillo was seeking the Democratic nomination for freeholder, and that he had some "housekeeping" left over from his losing 2003 13th District Assembly campaign, noting an anomaly in his campaign reporting.

Inzerillo's treasurer was James Devine.

As treasurer of the Election Fund of Flynn, Inzerillo and Perry, Devine filed the 29-day and 11-day pre-election reports, but no 20-day post-election report. Why? Well, the 11-day pre-election report shows that Devine closed out the Election Fund of Flynn, Inzerillo and Perry on October 13 (nearly a month before the election) by writing out a check in the amount of $2,473.47 to the Election Fund of Inzerillo and Perry. We reported that ELEC has no record of the Election Fund of Inzerillo and Perry.

Mr Devine posted a response:

"I don't have anything to say about Lenny Inzerillo, but the joint campaign account for which I was treasurer closed out without raising much money.The lack of any report could be due to the fact that none was required, because you don't need to file anything except a notice if you spend less than a certain amount on your campaign."

Well, Jim, there was no "notice" filed or anything else. Nuthinn... In fairness, maybe Devine wasn't the treasurer of the second account and doesn't know.
Somebody knows. Guaranteed.
Fast forward to today, and like Spanish dictator Francisco Franco is still dead, Lenny Inzerillo's ELEC Reports are still unfiled.
So if Lenny is really interested in running for freeholder, he should get on the horn and find out what happened to that account. No reports means there's no way of knowing what was raised, from where, and where it was spent. I really doubt it was just shut down, nearly a month before election.
As the candidate, Lenny, you're responsible; you and your erstwhile running-mate, Aberdeen Township Committeeman Tom Perry. So call him if you need to, whatever. Call ELEC for information if you have to. (609) 292-8700.
I suggest you do yourself a favor and straighten this out because this isn't going away.

THE DEMS' FLORIDA CONNECTION

Some interesting contributors to last year's unsuccessful Democrat Rebecca Aaronson & Barbara McMorrow campaign.
Contributions totaling $10,800.00, were made to the campaign during the summer of 2005 from nine sources in Palm Beach County and Broward County.
I get the impression that these contributors are not from someone's retired uncle.
Here they are:

Angelo Scardina,
of Boca Raton; President, Villages of Windsor by Ansca Homes LLC, $2,600.00, June 25, '05.

Richard Finkelstein,
of Ft. Lauderdale; President of Kenco Communities, $1,000.00, June 25, '05.

Stuart Cohen,
of Boca Raton; retired, $2,600.00, June 26, '05.

Bruce Grunot,
of Boca Raton; Paramount Builders Corp, $500.00, June 28, '05.

Triad Title Agency,
of Boca Raton; $500.00, June 29, '05.

Ned Siegel,
of Boca Raton; The Siegel Group, $500.00, June 29, '05.

Stephanie Siegel,
of Boca Raton; "homemaker", $500.00, June 29, '05.

Note: Paramount Builders, Triad Title and The Siegel Group are all located at 5000 T Rex Ave., Boca Raton. Stephanie Siegel is the wife of Ned Siegel.

Joseph Lelonek,
of West Palm Beach; Southland Centers LLC, $1,300.00, July 20, '05.

Robert Bentz,
of West Palm Beach; $1,300.00, July 20, '05.

Note: Both Lelonek and Bentz are reported as "Developers" on this report.

It's interesting as to why these people from so far away are so concerned with Monmouth County Politics.

JIM GIANNELL RUNNING FOR CHAIRMAN: HIDLAY SILENT SO FAR

Red Bank Boro GOP Chair Jim Giannell has announced his candidacy for County Chairman. Giannell is the leader of the Two Rivers Republican Conference, and has earned a reputation as a tireless and successful grass-roots operative. He is the president of New Markets Realty Inc., Red Bank.
Giannell has been called by some "The Kingmaker", a title he shuns, believing that any successes attributed to him are actually the result of a team effort. Recent examples of such successes include the election of Freeholder Anna Little to the unexpired term of Amy Handlin (Now an assemblywoman.), and the nominations of Lillian Burry and Andrew Lucas as freeholder candidates. Burry was elected last year; Lucas, with Little, will be on the general election ballot in November.

"I support (Asbury Park Press Editor) Skip Hidlay for County Chair, since everyone seems so interested in what the Asbury Park Press has to say. Let him deal with all of it."
...Former State Senate President John O. Bennett III

Bennett was being facetious, of course. His 2003 defeat by Democrat Ellen Kärcher has been attributed to a series of negative articles in the Press. Some may contend that the articles were correct; be that as it may, Bennett has a point.
While a pillar of a free press is to be critical of government and its officials, a watch-dog if you will, and politicians should be on their p's & q's lest their actions be reported negatively, it is not healthy to tailor all public policy simply for the satisfaction of any journal or journalist. At that point, the press becomes just another special interest group being pandered to.

Many other Republicans have been mentioned for the chairmanship, among them Mel Hood of Neptune Township, former Freeholder Ed Stominski of Eatontown, Middletown GOP Chairman Pete Carton, Millstone GOP Chairman Roger Staib, former assembly candidate Declan O'Scanlon, Holmdel Committeeman Terence Wall, lobbyist Madeline Ferraro, and former GOP State Committee Executive Director Brian Nelson; it seems the only one not interested is Howell Mayor Joe DiBella.

UPDATE - - OXLEY NOT RUNNING

"There is a bit of a vacuum, and it is fair to say we only have a month. I think the party faces some tough times."

...Former County Republican Chairman William F. Dowd.

Well, I won't be able to use the banner "There's a New Sheriff in Town" after the June reorganization, nor would I be able to say, "Use 'Oxley-Clean' to Remove Stains from Your Political Party!"

The Asbury Park Press and Will Seward report today that Sheriff Joe Oxley will unfortunately not be a candidate for County Chairman. And Wally Edge reports two additional possibilities for the post: Madeline Ferraro, currently a lobbyist and former Appointments Counsel to Governor Christine Todd Whitman; and former New Jersey Republican State Committee Executive Director and Joe DiBella campaign manager Brian Nelson. As far as I know, Ekdahl, Stominski and Hood are still interested.

UPDATE

Wally Edge is now mentioning former Acting Gov. John O. Bennett. And Jim Purcell says Jim Giannell may be considering a go at it.

UPDATED UPDATE

And now, the Asbury Park Press has Ekdahl out, with Giannell and Middletown GOP Chairman Peter Carton thinking it over.

A very fluid situation indeed. Let's not turn this into Bergen, folks.

FRED'S OUT. WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

Well, where do we go?
First, let's get through the June 13th reorganization meeting. At this point I don't know the location, but by state law this must be called by the incumbent County Chairman. Committee members will be notified after Primary, so leave that date open.
Who will it be? The current front-runner would appear to be Sheriff Joe Oxley, with former Freeholder Ed Stominski and Neptune GOP Club President Mel Hood as contenders. Rumson Mayor John Ekdahl is also mulling a run, but will not oppose the Sheriff. I'm not sure if Ed or Mel have plans to withdraw or if they're committed to a floor vote.
A possible wild card would be a Niemann-backed candidate a la Joe DiBella, but Fred really hasn't had much luck with that sort of stunt.
By-laws? A bad set of by-laws can cripple an organization, so this should be done right. At this point the party's finances are of the utmost priority if we are to win in November. The Monmouth County Republican Committee treasury has been depleted and the rent for the temporarily closed Republican Headquarters hasn't been paid. Most of the funds have been deposited in the various PACs under Glenn Hopler's treasurership.
It is important that the party get control of these funds. I would advise those interested in the job to get legal advice on that NOW. We don't really want the new Chairman, trying to do a good job, meanwhile Fred, Dan, Glenn and the rest of the "bunker boys" are still in control of the money and use it to start mischief.
Bottom line: All the PACs should be shut down by May 31, however many there turn out to be, and the money deposited in the Monmouth County Republican Committee account. Then the new leadership can go through the books and determine which contributions might be tainted and act accordingly. For starters, any contributions from the likes of Jack Morris, Solomon Dreck or Jack Westlake or others of that ilk should be returned to send a message that their games will no longer be tolerated here.
It is important that the new chairman operate a clean organization, and it is incumbent upon the rank-and-file to demand no less. We must be vigilant. Secretary Seward and myself will be watching. So will Jackie and Jim. Won't you join us?

SEWARD'S RIGHT. JIM PURCELL CAN DO A LOT BETTER

This past Friday, William H. Seward of More Monmouth Musings ran a post criticizing Courier publisher Jim Purcell for an editorial he ran in last week's Courier. (May 4th.) In the editorial, Purcell bashes Freeholder Deputy Director Rob Clifton for accepting a $5,000.00 contribution from the Committee for Responsibility and Trust in Government, an East Brunswick Township-based PAC led by former State Senator Jack Sinagra (R-Middlesex). After receiving negative press (From Courier) last summer, Clifton returned the contribution.
Much of this is just a re-hash of last summer's articles.
Purcell updates the story by comparing Clifton to indicted former West Long Branch Councilman Joseph DeLisa, who was nailed in Operation Bid-Rig, and is now said to be jammed up with developer Jack Morris and former State Senator John Lynch (D-Middlesex).
As Seward says:
"With that being said, Jim's column this week is garbage. Yellow journalism. Not fit for the National Enquirer or Mr. Whipple's inventory. He rehashes an old story published last July with no new facts and spews innuendo and suspicion on Rob Clifton because a campaign contributor of Rob's is suspected by an Asbury Park Press reporter of being an unnamed developer in former West Long Branch Councilman Joseph DeLisa's Operation Bid Rig indictment."
Exactly.
I agree with Seward, "Jim has been kinder to Republicans and former Republicans who have been indicted. He's even talked about "innocent until proven guilty" in the cases of at least 3 indicted in Operation Bid Rig."
I can see going after a public figure based upon many factors, good government being one of them, but in this case it looks like Jim Purcell simply doesn't like Rob Clifton. That's fine, but dislike does not good journalism make.
Last July, Courier ran a series of well-researched stories by Jackie Corley on the train station redevelopment project involving Matawan and Aberdeen. The problem was, they didn't go far enough. It's not as simple as "Oooh, Rob accepted a campaign contribution." That does not exist in a vacuum. Aberdeen's Democrats have accepted several thousand dollars from several developers doing business in their town. From the Aberdeen GOP website:
"In 2003, they accepted contributions of $4,000 from JPI, developer of Jefferson apartments, now Versailles, and $5,000 from Kara Homes, developer of Aspen Woods on Route 34 and Aberdeen Forge in Freneau. And so far this year they “wheeled” $1,000 to the Hazlet Township Democrat campaign! It’s no wonder the Democrats in Trenton continue to fight meaningful reforms of “pay-to-play” laws and an end to “wheeling”; they subsist upon it."
And the Aberdeen GOP Chairman, Michael Borg, who is a commenter on this blog, has exposed a $5,000.00 contribution to the Aberdeen Democrats from Aberdeen's train station developer! You didn't see that in Courier.
This goes well beyond Matawan and Aberdeen. Getting back to the Committee for Responsibility and Trust in Government, other beneficiaries of its largesse are the Howell Committee for Good Government (10/27/05 -- $4,000.00), and the Election Fund of Bill Barham (11/01/05 -- $5,000.00), but Purcell never reported that either.
I have come to respect Jim Purcell as a journalist, but to single out Rob Clifton while giving numerous others a pass is just wrong. Just plain wrong. To quote Will Seward, "Jim, you can do better. A lot better."

UPDATE

I just took a look through ELEC today, and here's what I found. The Monmouth GOP Leadership PAC, another of Fred's PACs (This would be No. 11). This PAC lists Neptune Attorney Peter V. Cantalupo, Jr. as its chairman, and Glenn Hopler (of course!) as treasurer.

This PAC included a $2,250.00 contribution from Jack Morris (himself, no PACs this time), a $750.00 contribution from John E. Westlake, only 2 months after his office had been raided by the FBI, and another $750.00 from Solomon Dwek. I'm assuming Dwek's check has cleared.

These contributions were all dated January 26, 2006, the date of the Chairman's Gala. This only strengthens my contention that it's Fred Niemann, not Rob Clifton that's the problem.

Nice people Fred hangs out with.

BOARD OF ELECTIONS

This one has been somewhat below the radar, but it should be discussed.
Chairman Fred Niemann has quietly been making changes on the Monmouth County Board of Elections. This four-member board consists by statute of two Republicans and two Democrats nominated by their respective county chairman and appointed by the governor. The senior commissioners from each party become the Chairman and Secretary. The Board of Elections is responsible for the conduct of elections within the county, and oversees the hundreds of District Boards.
Until recently, the Republicans on the Board were Robin Lemesevski of Freehold Township, and Barbara Muzetska of Eatontown.
Last year, Niemann nominated Norine E. Kelly of Howell to replace Robin. Mrs. Kelly is also Vice Chairman of the Monmouth County Republican Committee, and GOP Municipal Chairman in Howell. This changed the seniority on the board, and Democrat Leah Falk became secretary.
Barbara Muzetska was still chairman, until earlier this year when Niemann nominated Karen Haines of Middletown as a replacement. Karen is the Republican Headquarters manager.
This has thrown the seniority on the board squarely to the Democrats, with Leah Falk as Chairman.

THE DEMS' ELEC REPORT

OK folks, what you've been waiting for! The Monmouth County Democrats ELEC report. You know, the one that the Asbury Park Press had to remind them of.
Their beginning balance (9/30/05) was $84,922.07; receipts were $546,035.00; disbursements, $597,397.19; balance as of 12/31/05, $33,559.88.
So here's their major contributors, in alphabetical order like on the report:
Aberdeen Democratic Executive Committee, $2,000.00. Looks like they just wheel directly through their local organizations.
Union County Democratic Committee, $1,000.00. Wheeling.
Carpenters _____, $37,000.00. Karen & Richard?
Jon Corzine, $37,000.00. Of Course.
CWA Local 1034, $20,000.00. Where Corzine goes, so goes the CWA. I wonder how many of their rank & file membership know where their dues go?
CWA NJ Political Education Committee, $30,000.
Drazin & Warshaw, PC, $10,425.00.
UFCW, CLC, $37,000.00.
DRIVE Committee, $37,000.00. I believe this would be your basic International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Elect Democrats, $1,100.00. A PAC. Yes, they have them, too.
Election Fund of John S. Wisniewski, $2,875.00. And the wheel goes round.
Election Fund of Sen. Joseph Vitale, $2,000.00. Round and round and round.
Friends of Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Roberts, $37,000.00. Camden County, folks. And right generous of ol' Joe, too.
G. L. Cafesnian, $5,000.00. From Naples, Florida. Florida pops up on their reports from time to time.
David Huemer, $7,500.00. Essex County.
IBEW Local 351 State PAC Fund, $25,000.00. Another labor union.
IBEW COPE, $30,000.00.
Int'l. Union of Operating Engineers, $5,000.00.
Karcher for Senate, $500.00.
Leonard Lieberman, $5,000.00. Hoboken.
Local Union 400, $3,500.00.
Monmouth & Ocean Central Labor Council, $2,495.00.
New Jersey First, $1,000.00. Norcross.
NJ Democratic State Committee, $82,250.00.
New York City District Council of Carpenters, $25,000.00.
Pallone for Congress, $200.00 ($11,200.00 total for year).
Pascrell for Congress, $1,200.00. Passaic County.
SEIU PEA Int'l., $32,000.00.
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local No. 9, $800.00.
Rush Holt for Congress, $850.00.
Alan Sagner, $5,000.00. Essex County. Former NJDOT Commissioner.
Shore PAC, $14,500.00. Another PAC!
Election Fund of Thomas P. Giblin, $450.00. Essex County.
SEIU 1199 NJ, $2,260.00. In-Kind. Election Day work.
NJ Democratic State Committee, $62,290.00. In-Kind. Media buy.

Their disbursements include, among others, $147,602.34 paid out for "consult & canvass", and reported on a 40-page list; a 12-page list reports another $88,914.43. This was spent on paid GOTV volunteers from many places.

UPDATE ON THE 10 PACs.

The State Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) has posted the first quarter reports for the world to see.
The vast editorial staff here at the Monmouth County Republican Blog all got together at lunch today and thought it would be a good idea to post an update on Chairman Niemann's PACs. You know, the ones that he doesn't know anything about. And then defended by calling people al-Qaeda.
Numbers are as of March 31.
Showing a zero balance were the Aberdeen and Holmdel Committees for Good Government. The municipal chairmen in both towns desired that the PACs be shut down.
$1,100.00 was transfered from Aberdeen and $7,200 from Holmdel, both their entire balances, to the Committee for Sensible Growth (Tom Apostle, chair; Glenn Hopler [naturally] treasurer.), which had not filed any report for the fourth quarter '05. Sensible Growth's balance as of 3/31 is $8,380.00.
The Neptune Committee for Good Government balance remains at $5,000.00; no receipts or disbursements for the first quarter.
The Union Beach Committee for Good Government showed a balance of $19,650.00, having raised $6,250.00. There were no disbursements.
Interlaken's PAC reported $8,509.09, having raised $8,000.00 and spent $2,738.11 (Only 865.33 of that was itemized.)
The Long Branch Committee for Good Government had $1,740.00 on hand; they raised $1,250.00 and spent 3,005.
Howell Committee for Good Government has $10,975.52 and had raised $2,100.00. They spent $16,824.48.
I have the disbursement information for Interlaken, Long Branch and Howell Committees for Good Government if anybody's interested.
No word yet on New Millenium Leadership and the Committee for Small Business Development.

BUSTED!

Oompaloompaesque Union County publisher James J. Devine was caught overcharging the Rahway School District for advertising the School Budget. By nearly double. Read about it at The County Watchers.

Devine, a longtime associate of defeated former Assemblyman William E. Flynn (D-13), is infamous in Monmouth County for the now-defunct "HandlinThompson.org" website, in which he accuses an Asbury Park Press editor of favoring Assemblywoman Amy Handlin because they are both Jewish.
Devine is a longtime fixture in Central Jersey Democrat circles.

THANKS, JOE

It seems that we have Republican congressional candidates in Districts 6 and 12 primarily through the efforts of Middlesex County Republican Chairman Joseph P. Leo.
Things had been very quiet on the Monmouth front in those two districts, and many speculated that Monmouth County Republican Chairman Fred Niemann had forfeited them to their Democratic incumbents. The Mercer County GOP Convention had deferred to Monmouth on the 12th because we have a larger portion of the district. Our sources say that it was Middlesex's Leo who realized that quick action needed to be taken, and recruited Union Beach's Leigh-Ann Bellew for the 6th and Helmetta's Joe Sinagra for the 12th.
Why even bother to run candidates in districts that are supposedly unwinnable?
Look at the 1st District. Democrat Rob Andrews is running unopposed. Again. Once a Republican district represented by the late Bill Cahill, the 1st began trending Democratic and in 1974 elected Jim Florio. It is now the Norcross Heartland. With no opposition to Andrews, this not only gives the voters no choice at the polls, it also takes the fundraising pressure off the congressional race and frees up Democrat funds for other races in the area.
The same could have happened in the 6th and 12th. With no opposition across a wide region of Central Jersey, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Delaware River, Democrats could then spend more money on races like Monmouth County freeholder. So by opposing Frank Pallone and Rush Holt, we not only give the voters a choice, it helps the entire ticket.
As far as "unwinnable", don't sell these candidates short. You never know what issues may come up; Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th) was initially said to be in an "unwinnable race", but with the right issues he won and is now dean of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation. Sending Pallone and Holt their pink slips would be a good thing.
So, thanks to Joe Leo for his work in these districts.

NIEMANN MAY BACK DOWN

Wally Edge reports that Chairman Fred Niemann may not seek a second, two-year term as County Chairman. There has been some hubbub about this, and Niemann fanned the flames somewhat at the County Convention with his "if I seek another term" comment. Many people hung on the "if".
Wally reports that Sheriff Joe Oxley may step up to the plate.

REPUBLICAN REVIVAL

Republicans can make a triumphant return to Trenton if we stand for stuff. Real stuff like property tax reform, not just throwing crumbs like "rebates". They're better than nothing, but far from a solution. We won't get very far if we simply keep saying, "Look at Corzine, he's raising taxes!" Unless we offer solutions to property taxes and related issues like school funding, we're going to remain a minority party. News flash! There are 49 other states out there, and that's an excellent place to start looking for ideas. Jersey doesn't exist in a vacuum.
The Whitman/Gluck/DiFrancesco years set the GOP in this state back 35 years! By being "Democrats lite", and sometimes not so lite, our leadership squandered a golden opportunity to enact real change in this state. When a good law did come out of the Legislature, it often fell under Whitman's veto pen. If the veto was overridden, the Supreme Court would be sure not only to kill the law, but do some legislating of its own.
So, friends, the Republican Party can still beat the odds and return as a majority in Trenton, but we have to give voters a reason to vote for our people.
Saying we're not the Democrats, but we're like the Democrats won't cut it.

A VERY HAPPY AND MEANINGFUL EASTER AND PASSOVER TO ALL OF YOU FROM ALL OF US AT THE MONMOUTH COUNTY REPUBLICAN BLOG!

TIME TO LOOK TO NOVEMBER

With Joe DiBella's concession to Andrew Lucas, it's time to look to November and work hard to ensure a Republican victory. The opponents now are the Democrats and we must unite to defeat them.
The choice is clear. We have the youthful, energetic team of Andrew Lucas and Anna Little, proven public servants ready to serve the people. The Democrats have the tired slate of Barbara McMorrow and Leonard Inzerillo, proven politicians ready to serve the bosses and special interests. Anna has already turned down PAC money and Andrew has also sworn off such fundraising. McMorrow and Inzerillo both have fundraising connections to Union County interests, and the vast editorial staff here at the Monmouth County Republican Blog are all very concerned about Monmouth County being run like Union County. For information on how Union County is run, please click here.
Furthermore, Inzerillo's treasurer in his losing 2003 campaign against former Assemblyman Joe Azzolina was the controversial, oompaloompaesque Union County publisher James Devine, of Handlin-Thompson.org infamy.
It is important to get the word out. Our candidates will win on the issues everytime!

But Abe, But Abe, What About June?

What about it?
Let's keep the reorganization separate from the Freeholder campaign. They are two separate issues. As Republicans, we should all look to elect our Freeholder candidates. They have been chosen, fair and square. The team will remain the same regardless of the chairman's election.
It appears that Chairman Fred Niemann will have some competition this June. Those who have declared so far are former Freeholder Ed Stominski and Neptune Township Republican Club President Mel Hood. Others may or may not enter the race as June approaches.
The reorganization should be decided on issues, not personalities, and whatever the outcome, whoever wins and whoever you backed, it's important to stay united with victory in November as our goal.

NIEMANN'S GOT WOES

Read all about it at Wally Edge.

2006 REPUBLICAN SLATE

Manalapan's Lucas Nominated; Visibly Angry DiBella May Challenge Result.

UPDATE: The freeholder result is now up in the air. Declared a "tie" by Gallic.

UPDATED UPDATE: DiBella concedes to Lucas and won't run, so says the APP.

The following were nominated at this morning's Republican County Convention:

U. S. SENATE: Thomas Kean

4th DISTRICT CONGRESS: Rep. Chris Smith

6th DISTRICT CONGRESS: Leigh-Ann Bellew

12th DISTRICT CONGRESS: Joseph Sinagra

SURROGATE: Rosemarie Peters

FREEHOLDER, 3 Yrs.: Andrew Lucas

FREEHOLDER, 1Yr.: Anna Little

Nominations were done by acclamation for all positions but Surrogate and the 3-year freeholder slot. Peters beat Little Silver's Rick DeNoia for the Surrogate nod.
For freeholder the choice was to select one out of a field of five men: Lucas, Joseph DiBella of Howell, Robert Kleinberg of Marlboro, Brian Reilly of Spring Lake and Terence Wall of Holmdel.
Reilly and Kleinberg were defeated in the first round of balloting and threw their support to Lucas. Then Wall announced his withdrawal from the second ballot and endorsed Lucas. Lucas went on to win over DiBella by one vote.
DiBella is said to be contemplating a challenge to the result.

OFFICIALS NAME FREEHOLDER CHOICES

Several Republican officials made their endorsements for freeholder. Read about it in today's Asbury Park Press.

The convention will take place 9:00 AM tomorrow, Saturday April 8, at the Robert Collins Arena at Brookdale Community College. Bring ID!

It won't be at Kramer Hall!

HOPES TO UNSEAT PALLONE

Wally Edge reports that Union Beach conservative activist Leigh-Ann Bellew has been endorsed by the Middlesex County GOP to challenge Rep. Frank Pallone. ...read more.

Bellew is a relative unknown, but has been active in conservative causes, notably GOPUSA.

She intends to seek the Monmouth County GOP endorsement at our convention this Saturday.

And Wally sez there's still no challenger to Rush Holt.

Is anybody interested in the 12th? Have Fred and the other GOP leaders even been looking??? Apparently the Mercer GOP has deferred to Monmouth on this district because it is Monmouth-dominated.

DEMS: "WE DON'T NEED NO STEENKIN' REPORTS!"

"We didn't? I'm sure we did."
"Due to accounting complexities because of last year's state races, rather than file an incomplete report, the report was delayed. It will be filed by the end of next week."
...Democrat Party Executive Director Kate Burlett, when told her party hadn't filed its ELEC reports, due in January.


The APP reports that the Monmouth County Democrats didn't even file their fourth quarter ELEC reports which were due over two months ago:

The party also appears to have failed to report $94,442 it spent on one campaign alone, the 2005 county freeholder bids of Barbara J. McMorrow and Rebecca Aaronson. The two losing Democrats reported receiving $194,242 in in-kind support from the county Democratic Party. But the Monmouth County Democrats reported spending only $99,800 on their behalf, according to reports filed with ELEC. By law, such expenditures between Oct. 1 and Election Day should be reported within 48 hours.

Told her party hadn't filed its fourth-quarter report, Kate Burlett, executive director of the Monmouth County Democrats Inc., responded Thursday, "We didn't? I'm sure we did."

Burlett went on, "Due to accounting complexities because of last year's state races, rather than file an incomplete report, the report was delayed. It will be filed by the end of next week."
Filed by the end of next week. Spin, spin, spin. That obviously means that they never even put together a report, and they have to scramble and get their information together to make the report.
This is consistent with the mysterious missing report of Lenny Inzerillo and Tom Perry's failed 2003 assembly campaign, which The Monmouth County Republican Blog reported in February.
The Monmouth County Republican Organization has filed a formal complaint with ELEC.

THE CHAIRMAN'S RESPONSE

Monmouth County Republican Organization
16 West Main Street
Freehold, New Jersey 07728
732-431-6664
Fax No. 732-431-6619
http://www.monmouthrepublican.org/

Fredrick P. Niemann, Chairman

March 30, 2006

Friends, Local, County and State Elected Officials, Municipal Chairmen
and Chairwomen and Members of the Monmouth County Republican
Committee:
WE EITHER RAISE MONEY LEGALLY OR SURRENDER
MONMOUTH COUNTY TO THE DEMOCRATS. I WILL NEVER
UNILATERALLY DISARM AND SURRENDER OUR PARTY TO THE
DEMOCRATS.
I AM CALLING ON SENATOR KARCHER AND ASSEMBLYMAN
PANTER TO JOIN THE MONMOUTH COUNTY REPUBLICAN
PARTY IN POSTING AND PASSING COMPREHENSIVE ELECTION
REFORM LEGISLATION ... INCLUDING PUBLIC FINANCING AND
SPENDING LIMITS ON STATE AND COUNTY CAMPAIGNS.
In 2004, Monmouth County Democrats spent nearly $750,000.00
in an attempt to elect a sheriff and two freeholders. They failed. In 2005,
New Jersey Democrats spent nearly 4.5 million dollars in Monmouth
County, to elect two(2) freeholders and ten (10)assembly candidates. They
failed again. In fact, in the two weeks preceding the November 8, 2005
election, Monmouth County Democrats wheeled in $256,000.00 from
PAC’S, PPC’S and other political entities.
Just a few examples:
1. $25,000. Local Union 164
2. $25,000. IBEW
3. $37,000. N.J. Carpenters. Political Education Drive Committee
4. $37,000. Friends of Joe Roberts
5. $25,000. IBEW Local #35, State PAC
6. $30,000. CWA (PAC)
7. $25,000. NYC District Council of Carpenters
The list of examples goes on and on as relates to campaign spending
in the 11th , 12th, and, 13th district assembly races. For example: In the 11th
District Assembly races against Assemblymen Corodemus and Kean.
1. NJAL PAC $42,000.00
2. New Millenium Pac $ 2,600.00
3. Drive Commitee FPAC $ 3,500.00
4. Painters Union PAC $ 2,500.00
Total Contributions...... $80,500.00
From Pac’s etc. in
last two weeks
In the 12th Assembly race against Assemblywoman Beck and Declan
O’Scanlan:
1. Plumbers and Pipe Fitters $ 2,500.00
2. NJ Dental Pac $ 1,500.00
3. NJ Plumbers & Pipe Fitters$ 7,000.00
4. MBNA Pac $ 1,000.00
5. ALTA Legal $ 5,000.00
6. Democrats 2000 Pac $ 1,500.00
7. Bar Local Pac $ 3,000.00
8. Democrat Governors
Association Pac $ 5,200.00
9. NJ Funeral Directors Pac $ 7,500.00
10. New Dem Leadership Pac $ 371,899.00
11. NJEA $ 12,000.00
Total Contributions..... $ 486,399.00

From Pac’s etc. in last
two weeks
Make no mistake about it. New Jersey Democrats are a cash /fundraising
machine. They are poised in 2006 again to spend obscene sums of
money in Monmouth County. We have two choices. Raise money legally or
unilaterally disarm and surrender 50 years of Republican values and
leadership in Monmouth County to our opponents. We cannot do this. I will
not surrender our Party. Instead, it’s time to reform the system.
In 2005, I called for comprehensive election law reform. I called for the
elimination of “loopholes” designed, written and adopted by the Democrats
in Trenton to allow PAC’S, PPC’S and other entities to raise virtually
unlimited funds while crippling Republicans. Last year, I supported public
financing of campaigns, including County Freeholder elections as a means of
bringing sanity and fairness to the election process. My pleas fell on deaf
ears. But, I am not deterred.
Today I have written to Senator Ellen Karcher, Monmouth County’s
ranking Democrat Senator and Assemblyman Michael Panter, Monmouth
County’s ranking Democrat Assemblyman to immediately demand that the
Democrat leadership in Trenton post the bills of Assembly and Senate
Republicans that will bring real and immediate campaign finance reform. It
is time for action, not inaction and excuses.
Today, I have also written to Monmouth County Democrat Chairman
Vic Scudery calling for an immediate person to person meeting to negotiate
and agree upon a campaign spending limit for this years Surrogate and
Freeholder races. This limit will include funding from all sources including
COUNTY COMMITTEES, MPC’S, PPC’S, PAC’S, 527's and all of the
manufactured vehicles used to fund political campaigns. All of our
prospective candidates for office will agree to this proposal if the Democrat
Freeholder candidates and Surrogate candidate agree to join us to limit
campaign spending.
The alternative to meaningful campaign finance reform is the
continuation of obscene spending by New Jersey Democrats and a race by
N.J. Republicans to try and keep up.

WHAT’S AT STAKE!

If Monmouth County Republicans do not raise money to communicate
to the voters about Republican values and the quality of life created by our
Republican elected officials, Monmouth County will fall to the Democrats,
just like Bergen County, Union County, Camden County, Cumberland
County, and reportedly this years target (besides Monmouth County),
Atlantic County. In some cases, N.J. Democrats wheeled in millions of
dollars to buy victories in those counties, generally in the last three (3) weeks
of the campaign Those counties were solidly Republican until they were
crushed by Democrat money and their massive campaign war chests.
Republicans were crippled and became easy targets. All New Jersey
residents are the victims of the tax and spend philosophy of the Democrats in
Trenton.
Finally, our Finance Chairman Josh Elkes has done an outstanding job
raising funds to elect Republicans in our County. Mr. Elkes is a highly
ethical and good man. He has explained to me our fund-raising system,
including the use of legally permissible (PAC’S) and other entities created
under the law. We operate legally under the law. A law that is as complex
as the tax code. We will not knowingly violate the law to raise money. I have
instructed Mr. Elkes to again review our entire fund-raising system, with the
advice of legal counsel. As County Chairman, I intend to become fully
conversant about our financing. In retrospect, it was my responsibility to be
fully informed instead of delegating this obligation to my friend, Josh Elkes.
So you know, our Finance Chair has continuously requested and received
legal advice on how to fund-raise legally. If changes to our fund-raising
methods are necessary or mistakes have been made, they will be immediately
corrected.
I am sorry about the length of this letter but I believe you would
appreciate some perspective in light of the recent stories in the press.
Should you have any questions about the contents of this letter, you
may call me at my office (732) 409-7360 ext. 105 or e-mail me on our County
website, www.MonmouthCountyRepublican.org .
Sincerely yours,
FREDRICK P. NIEMANN
Monmouth County Republican Chairman
FPN/lgu

GOOD GOING FRED

"You can fool some of the people some of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time."
...Abraham Lincoln


The saga continues.
One issue we Republicans always had over the Democrats was that we were much cleaner on fundraising. Chairman Fred Niemann's activities with the seven (ten?) PACs made sure that that went bye-bye. He handed the issue right to the Democrats on a golden platter.
The Democrats have moved in like a school of piranhas.
Yesterday's Asbury Park Press reported that Democrat Senator Ellen Karcher and Assemblyman Michael Panter have both gotten into the act and written to the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) requesting an investigation.
Fred, what did you think was going to happen?
The result of this whole fiasco is that no Republican in Monmouth County can use Democrat finances as an issue now with any credibility. And there still hasn't been an explanation as to the Committee for Sensible Growth, New Millenium Leadership and the Committee for Small Business Development, for which no ELEC reports have been found yet. Some Niemann supporters have attempted to throw blame around, speculating as to who may have leaked the PACs to the media, but the fact is that ELEC reports are public record, available online for anyone interested. The Press was apparently interested; they have been since 2003. Idiot. The Democrats could ride this straight to two freeholder seats and the surrogate this November.
Good going Fred.

MERLA MAY RUN AGAIN.

Today's Asbury Park Press reports that John Merla may seek reelection as Mayor of Keyport as an independent. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty, but is this a wise move? Read the article here.

JUST LIKE WALLY SAID...

Wally Edge's incredible radar has picked up the goings-on here in Monmouth County and has reported them bright and early this morning. You can read about it here.
Wally points out that Glenn Hopler, treasurer of multiple accounts, is an accountant at a firm with offices in the same Toms River, Ocean County building as Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore.

NIEMANN HANGS LOCAL LEADERS OUT TO DRY!

"I don't know what PACs we have or how much is in them."
...Chairman Fredrick P. Niemann.


Republicans and others in Monmouth County woke up this morning to a report in the Asbury Park Press on seven "PAC" funds set up around Monmouth County so the County GOP leadership can get around the new "Pay to Play" law. The report was on the front page. Above the fold.
According to the Press, County GOP leaders were quick to take the code of omerta, or silence, and quickly denied any knowledge of the funds:

Fredrick P. Niemann, chairman of the Monmouth County Republican Organization, said Wednesday that he was unaware of the existence of the seven new GOP committees.
"I don't know what PACs we have or how much is in them," he said.

Josh Elkes, finance chairman of the Monmouth County Republican Organization, said he was aware of the seven GOP committees but would not comment further about why they were established or how the funds would be used.

The County GOP's shadowy Executive Director, Dan Gallic, has yet to chime in on his knowledge of this situation.
Freeholder Anna C. Little refused a contribution of $2,600 from the Holmdel Committee for Good Government, stating, "I was unsure of the origin of the funds in the account" and "I don't care to be involved in a scandal."
The PACs were also blasted by Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-13) and Holmdel Township Committeeman Terence M. Wall, a freeholder candidate.
The PACs are all titled the (name of town) Committee for Good Government and include funds set up in Aberdeen, Holmdel, Howell, Interlaken, Long Branch, Neptune and Union Beach. Each lists the local GOP municipal chairman as PAC chairman and Glenn Hopler of Middletown Township as treasurer. Hopler is a CPA with the Toms River firm of Holman & Frenia, PC. Toms River is in Ocean County. All the PACs have the address of P. O. Box 7300, Shrewsbury. Three other PACs listed on the Interlaken ELEC report disbursements but without reports of their own are the Committee for Sensible Growth, New Millenium Leadership and the Committee for Small Business Development.
By playing dumb on this, Niemann has hung seven local leaders out to dry.
Of the seven PACs, so far only one may be said to have its days numbered, the Aberdeen Committee for Good Government. On March 9th, on this blog, Aberdeen GOP Chairman Michael Borg said:

"...about two months ago, I asked that it be dismantled, that has yet to be done. I will handle that when I get back from the Federal Law Enforcement Academy, where I have been for the last three weeks, and where I'll continue to be for the next two and half."

We hope that Mr. Borg follows through on this if he hasn't already, and the leaders in the other towns follow suit. It's a shame that Mr. Hopler didn't dismantle it when Mr. Borg asked in the first place.

UPDATE

In the March 25 Asbury Park Press, a follow-up article quotes Fred Niemann as saying the PACs are "perfectly legal"; he then in fine Clintonesque fashion deflects the question with assertations that the New Jersey campaign finance laws are weak.
A number of Republican stalwarts have called for his resignation.
At the Affilliated Republican Club's candidate's night last night, where the tension could cut glass, Niemann lashed out at his critics, calling them names like "part of al-Qaida in our organization" and "enemies of reform." He has previously used terms like "communists and bomb-throwers." He then came out for public financing of political campaigns.
Mayor Robert D. Wolf III of Interlaken demanded Niemann, "take accountability for turning the Interlaken GOP coffers into a Maytag washing machine."

FREEHOLDER CANDIDATES

William H. Seward of More Monmouth Musings reports the following candidates for Freeholder:

Robert Kleinberg, Mayor of Marlboro

Joseph DiBella, Mayor of Howell

Terence Wall, Holmdel Township Committee and Keansburg Borough Manager

Andrew Lucas, Manalapan Township Committee

Brian Reilly, Spring Lake Councilman

J. David Hiers, Ocean Township Committee

Thomas DeSeno of Howell is said to be running but has yet to formally declare.

Seven candidates for the full term, four of which (Kleinberg, DiBella[!], Reilly and DeSeno) had their names in for the unexpired term won by Freeholder Anna Little. Wall, Lucas and Hiers are newcomers to the county level.
Kleinberg has cut a reputation as a no-nonsense reformer in Marlboro. DiBella and Wall can both be considered controversial each in his own way in their respective towns, but certainly don't shy away from it. Wall has received good grades for his work as Keansburg Borough manager. Lucas, a farmer, serves on the governing body in Manalapan. Hiers is considered close to Freeholder Director Bill Barham, and like Barham is a volunteer firefighter. DeSeno gave a powerful speech at the February convention, and Reilly has so far been relatively low-key.
I hope to hear from these candidates because I'd like to do a candidate's blog here; so far only Terence Wall has responded.

BLOGGING CANDIDATES?

Okay, folks. Kaiser Sose has proposed a very interesting concept.

"Abe - can you get the candidates all here with real names? that would be really FASCINATING. I bet they may agree to a positive issue based dialogue - No?"

This is very interesting. If we can get all the freeholder candidates here, real names, for an informal discussion on the issues. I haven't heard from Republican HQ as to who submitted papers to Chairman Fred Niemann, but I know Marlboro's Dr. Robert Kleinberg and Holmdel's Terence Wall are in it. Other names I've heard thrown around are Ocean's Dave Hier as well as Spring Lake's Brian Reilly and Howell's Joe DiBella for round two.
So, once it's official just who the candidates are, we can do this, if we get response from the candidates.
Rules? I'd like to keep it pretty informal, but I will not tolerate another "Jerry Springer Show", whether from Howell or not. So, no name-calling. Also, if I believe that someone is not who they say they are, they're out. The thread will only be open to candidates.
It's easy to register with Blogger, and you don't have to start your own blog unless you want to. Let us know your opinion on this, and I hope to hear from all the candidates.

WALL IS IN THE RACE

Holmdel Township Committeeman Terence Wall has announced his candidacy for freeholder. GOP committee members have reported being robo-called with a message from Wall's wife, Jeanne.
The message states that Wall, a supporter of Freeholder Theodore J. Narozanick, waited until Narozanick announced his decision not to run for another term before declaring his candidacy.

WEBSITE BANNED IN JERSEY CITY

Today's Jersey Journal reports that Jersey City has banned the website, Get NJ from City Hall computers. The site contains a Hudson County message board which has been critical of the administration of Mayor Jerramiah Healey. The Journal reports:

The City Hall ban is limited to the Web site getnj.com and does not extend to other message boards on the net, which caught the attention of the ACLU of New Jersey.

The site's owner, former city employee Anthony Olszewski, cannot understand why his site is the only one banned by the city, "and not other recreational sites such as eBay.com."

We concur with Olszewski, who worked during the administration of former Republican Mayor Bret Schundler.

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.

PETERS IS IN THE RACE

This announcement was e-mailed to Monmouth County Republicans:

Dear Monmouth County Republican,
Today I issued the following statement to announce my candidacy for Monmouth County Surrogate. I wanted to share it with you and ask for your support. If you are interested in helping my campaign in anyway, please email me at rdp@rosemariepeters.com. I hope to see you soon.
Sincerely yours,
Rosemarie

MIDDLETOWN COMMITTEEWOMAN ROSEMARIE PETERS ANNOUNCES RUN FOR MONMOUTH COUNTY SURROGATE

Middletown, NJ – Committeewoman and former Mayor Rosemarie D. Peters, the longest-serving member of the governing body in Monmouth County’s most populous municipality, today announced that she will be seeking the Republican nomination for Monmouth County Surrogate.
“Given my legal background and many years of public service, I believe I can best serve the residents of Monmouth County as Surrogate,” said Peters. “If elected, I intend to focus all of my attention on the tasks of the office. I will be a full-time Surrogate, which I believe the residents of Monmouth County deserve.”First elected in 1988 and re-elected five times since, Peters is completing her 18th year on the Middletown governing body. She has served four years as Mayor, three as Deputy Mayor, and has been a member of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment. She is currently chair of the Township’s Open Space Preservation Committee, which she initiated, and is president of the Middletown Township Cultural and Arts Council, which she founded.Peters has been a member of the executive board and the Legislative Review Committee of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities. She was formerly a member of the Monmouth County Environmental Council, a board member of the Monmouth County Mental Health Association, and former president of the Middletown Township League of Women Voters. Peters has a Juris Doctor degree from the Rutgers School of Law-Newark, a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Thomas A. Edison State College, and an Associates in Art degree from Brookdale Community College. She has been married for over 40 years to Thomas Peters, and has two grown children and two grandchildren.

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PAID FOR BY ROSEMARIE PETERS FOR SURROGATE, JOAN A. SMITH, TREAS., PO BOX 725, LINCROFT, NJ 07738.

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?

KLEINBERG IS IN THE RACE

Marlboro Mayor Robert Kleinberg has announced his intention to run for Ted Narozanick's seat on the Board of Chosen Freeholders. It is not certain at this point whether Narozanick will seek another term.
Kleinberg, a Brooklyn-based chiropractor, was elected mayor in 2003 on a reform platform. He succeeded felon Matthew Scannapieco, a known associate of gangsta developer Anthony "Mr. Marlboro" Spalliero, as mayor. Since then, a slate of reform-minded Republicans has joined Kleinberg on the Township Council; this team, along with Kleinberg has transformed Marlboro's reputation from that of a "culture of corruption" to a that of reform. They have taken down the for-sale sign at Town Hall.
Kleinberg, like Narozanick, is from Western Monmouth County, and this has been noted as a plus in that many Republicans would like to maintain some geographic diversity on the Board.

In a somewhat related matter, the Monmouth County Democrats, sticking with their tried and true formula for success of running the same people more than once, have endorsed Leonard Inzerillo and Barbara McMorrow for freeholders at their convention yesterday. Beverly Bova Scarano, an unsuccessful former candidate for Middletown Township Committee, is their candidate for Surrogate.

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."