PRESS GETS IT RIGHT THIS TIME

And it's a shame.
The Monmouth County Republican Blog has been critical of the Asbury Park Press' reporting and editorializing on Monmouth County government and the freeholders' campaign.
We can't be critical of this one.
In this editorial, the Press scores County Chairman Adam Puharic for his proposal to require candidates to put up $1,000 "to pay an investigator to sniff their dirty laundry."
I posted the following on William Seward's blog yesterday (Italics are from the editorial; my comments are in Boldface.):

• Those who aren't chosen by the 24-member Republican screening committee as party-line candidates should have serious concerns about how the information will be used if they pursue a primary fight or an independent challenge to the Politburo-approved candidates.
• And those who are chosen should have serious concerns, if elected, should they attempt to deviate from the "party line" while in office.
• The fee alone could deter some candidates from running.
• That may be part of the idea.
• Puharic estimated the cost at $1,000, but other party members were told it would be $2,000 or $2,500. Puharic defended the plan, saying "background checks are something every big company does."
• Possibly. But I guarantee that they do not spend $1,000, $2,000 or $2,500 a pop for the checks. That would be cost prohibitive and a bad business decision. No, they pay a small subscription fee for a service. The dollar amount leads me to question just who will be doing these background checks, and why such a high fee. Is Adam looking to throw business at an inflated price to a politically connected firm?

The Monmouth County Republican Blog has been critical of the Press, and I'm sure, will be again. We cannot, however, criticize them when our party leaders by their actions have brought the bad press upon themselves.

THE RACE FOR FREEHOLDER

Four people have filed letters of intent with Chairman Adam Puharic for this year's freeholder race. They are:

• Robert D. Clifton - Incumbent freeholder, former Mayor of Matawan. Clifton is completing his first three - year term on the board.
• Anna C. Little - Incumbent Freeholder, former Highlands Borough Councilwoman. She is completing the one - year unexpired term of Amy H. Handlin, who resigned from the Board after taking a seat in the State Assembly.
• J. David Hiers - Ocean Township Committeeman, former fire chief. Hiers had thrown his hat in the ring last year, but later withdrew and endorsed the candidacy of Howell Mayor Joseph DiBella.
• Brian J. Reilly - Spring Lake Borough Councilman. Reilly also ran last year; after being defeated on the first ballot at the April 8th Convention he endorsed Andrew Lucas, who got the nomination.
• A possible fifth candidate may file with Puharic today. UPDATE! Will Seward says it might be Freehold Township Committeeman Anthony Ammiano, who served as Mayor for 2006. UPDATED UPDATE!!! It's Marlboro Township Committeeman Jeff Cantor.

The Steering Committee will meet on Saturday, February 17th and select two candidates for each open position; those names will then be voted on at the County Convention on Saturday March 24th.
Candidates are expected to undergo background checks, for which they are asked to pay up to $1,000. There was talk that it would be up to $2,000, but the amount has been clarified in today's (2/2/07) Asbury Park Press by Chairman Puharic.

12th DISTRICT HEATING UP

This week has had a lot of activity with candidates announcing for State Senate and Assembly races here in Monmouth County. In the 12th District, Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck has made it official that she will oppose Democratic Sen. Ellen Kärcher for the senate seat. Beck, as the only GOP member of the 12th District legislative delegation, and there had been speculation for quite some time about her intentions.
Beck will be challenged in the June primary by Manalapan Township Committeeman Joseph Locricchio, who has opted not to participate in the Steering Committee process established by County Chairman Adam Puharic.
On the Assembly side, three people so far have filed letters of intent with Puharic. They are Little Silver Councilman Declan O'Scanlon, Jr., who narrowly lost by 65 votes to Democratic Assemblyman Michael Panter in 2005; Fair Haven Councilman Thomas Gilmour, and Caroline Casagrande of Colts Neck, who serves as Manalapan Township Attorney.

HE'S BAAAAAAAAAACK!!!

This just in.
We have it on reliable source that former County Chairman Fred Niemann has been spotted recently in the Metropolitan Café with Freeholder Director Bill Barham and Freeholder Rob Clifton.
What were they up to?
Were they discussing strategy for the upcoming campaign? Were Bill and Fred giving Rob an "exit interview"?
Anyone know what's up?
Both Barham and Clifton in the past were recipients of $5,000.00 contributions from the Committee for Responsibility and Trust in Government, an East Brunswick based PAC chaired by former State Senator Jack Sinagra (R - Middlesex). Clifton had returned the contribution; Barham has not.
The Committee for Responsibility and Trust in Government dispersed all its funds in October to several local campaigns in Middlesex County and folded up its operation. A CPC-F form was filed with ELEC and it is no more.

COUNTY CAMPAIGN 2007

New Year's Day is behind us. It's 2007. It'll be a busy year on the Monmouth political scene. All the legislators will be up for election. On the county level, we have the County Clerk, the Sheriff and two Freeholders.
From all indications all the county officials are running for reelection: County Clerk Claire French, Sheriff Joe Oxley, and Freeholders Rob Clifton and Anna Little.
There is, however, talk around Freehold that there may be a challenge against both incumbent freeholders. This is compounded by the fact that both freeholders have been inexplicably excluded from the new steering committee. While there may be other, logical reasons for that, it looks suspicious.
Some question the electability of Rob and Anna without giving any specifics. It may be more like retaliation for their votes against curmudgeonly County Counsel Malcolm V. Carton. Whatever the reason, we Republicans should be very wary of the motives of anyone attempting to unseat two officeholders.
There are some people who are said to have thrown their names in the ring. At this time, we will not list any names of potential contenders until these individuals make an announcement.

STEERING COMMITTEE

Having Incumbents Screen is Bad for Party Unity and a Recipe for Defeat
...William H. Seward

William H. Seward at More Monmouth Musings has an excellent post on Chairman Adam Puharic's new Steering Committee.
This is a matter of concern to all Republicans, and Seward's post should be required reading.
Link.

COUNTY ELECTION BOARD APPOINTMENTS

Back in 2005, then-County Chairman Fredrick Niemann nominated Howell Republican Chair Norine E. Kelly to a 2-year term on the Monmouth County Board of Elections replacing Robin Lemesevski of Freehold Township. Mrs. Kelly was also Vice Chairwoman of the Monmouth County Republican Committee at the time.

Norine Kelly's term on the County Board expires on March 1. Fred Niemann is no longer the County Chairman, and it is not known what Chairman Adam Puharic's intentions are here.

According to New Jersey Election Law (Title 19) N. J. S. A. 19:6-18, those responsible for nominations to the Board are Chairman Puharic, Vice Chairwoman Mollie Giamanco, State Committeeman John Bennett and Mollie Giamanco in her capacity as State Committeewoman.

Will Mrs. Kelly be reappointed? Is anyone else interested in the job?

JEN BECK MAY CHALLENGE KÄRCHER

Today's (1/10/'07) APP reports that 12th District Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck may challenge Democratic Senator Ellen Kärcher this year.
While Beck has not decided on this, a senate run has been rumored since her election to the Assembly in 2005. Beck is the only Republican legislator in the 12th, and has been on many GOP activists' short list for a senate candidacy.

Beck, a native of Erie, Pa, is a Red Bank resident and served on the Red Bank Borough Council before serving in the Assembly.

APP ATTACKS FREEHOLDERS

An editorial in today's (January 8, '07) Asbury Park Depress attacks the Board of Chosen Freeholders for selecting William C. Barham for a second year as Director. While the Monmouth County Republican Blog has favored rotating the leadership (We were leaning to Lillian Burry.) and has in fact been critical of Barham at times, we must challenge the APP on this issue.
Their motivation has not been and is not good government. Their motivation has been to elect Democratic freeholders. Period, end of story.
In order to bring about this goal, the APP and its editors, while hiding behind the screen of populism and good government, criticizes every action and policy of the county.
Now, let's have a go at their editorial [Bold & bracketed comments are mine.]:

Limit tenure of director

Before William C. Barham was elected Monmouth County freeholder director for a second straight year last week, board members were stalemated on whether the job should be rotated.
We agree with Freeholder Lillian Burry's position that no freeholder should serve as director for more than two consecutive years, though she was likely jockeying for the job in 2008. [Jockeying for the job. And this is a problem because? Wouldn't Burry as director meet your goal of rotation?] Burry campaigned on tenure limits when she ran with Barham in 2005. Barham has made it clear he doesn't want to surrender the title anytime soon.
"The director's job is more about what has to be done tomorrow than today," he said. "You have to see what needs to be done 20 years down the road." Actually, that's the job of the whole board.
Barham cited his qualifications in presenting the case that he should retain the position. Which ones? His employment with a construction firm now hundreds of thousands of dollars over budget and three years behind schedule on its renovation work at the County Hall of Records? [This project is nothing new. And you only report on it now?] Or being the handpicked successor of the late Harry Larrison Jr., who served as director for 21 of his 39 years on the board and was charged shortly before his death with soliciting bribes from two developers? [Simply because Larrison was charged with taking bribes doesn't mean that Barham takes bribes too. Guilty by association? Or does the APP know something we don't? If so, please report what you know to U. S. Attorney Chris Christie. Otherwise, knock off the National Enquirer garbage.]
Barham said the job's "not a political position, it's a working position with a lot of responsibility." No, it's not. It's about ego. [Ohhhh. So that's why the State Legislature provided for the selection of a Freeholder Director. Ego. Riiiiight.] He gets to run meetings and sign county documents. [Running meetings. That's the people's business. Signing county documents. Like multi-million dollar contracts? But none of that is a lot of responsibility. Noooooo.] Those are the only additional official duties of the director. [Welllll, if the directorship is not that important, why even bother with this editorial?]
Last year, though not all board members had publicly declared who they supported and Freeholder Ted Narozanick expressed interest in the job, Barham was able to produce a nameplate identifying himself as director immediately after the vote. [Maybe he had privately polled the membership beforehand and realized he had the votes. You need to count to three to get anything passed by the Board of Freeholders. In fact, last year, Barham actually got only three votes.]Craving the job that badly is unhealthy. [Unhealthy? Oh, like repeatedly slanted and inaccurate reporting? Hellooo Bald Avenger.]
Burry, who was voted deputy director last week, said she would support Barham this year, but that "I strongly believe two years is enough and someone new should be picked next year." Namely, herself. [And this is a problem because??? You have a problem with a second year for Barham, and you have a problem with Burry being interested in the directorship. Who, pray tell, does the Asbury Park Depress actually want for Freeholder Director??? And, no, you can't dig up Raymond Kramer.]
Barham said he won't go along with any restrictions on how many consecutive years a director can serve in the future. No surprise there. And Freeholder Robert Clifton, who has presented himself as a reformer but has moved in lockstep with Barham [Lockstep? Like on the vote to reappoint County Counsel Malcolm Carton? Come on, what does the APP take its readers for? Stupid? Note that most routine business votes on the Board are unanimous; the County Counsel is a pretty important vote; Clifton and Freeholder Anna C. Little were the dissenters.], would only say he prefers an unofficial agreement that directors not serve more than two years.
The other freeholders — Democrat Barbara McMorrow and Anna Little — should join with Burry and insist on a two-year limit for the director's job. [I would even go for a one-year limit. But anything the Board does can be undone by a later Board, making it an unenforceable gentlemen's agreement. The State Legislature can impose a limit on a director's terms, and even on a freeholders' terms.] And they should work to ensure that it goes to someone next year who doesn't regard the post as a birthright. [And who does the APP think that should be? If they really believed this issue to be important, and not simply an opportunity to sling mud, they could have made a recommendation prior to the reorganization, i. e., "We like ____ because...". ]

Rotating the directorship is a good idea, but it's not a be all - end all. For the Depress to act as though it is is disingenuous at best. They have set a policy wherein every action taken by the Board of Freeholders is wrong.
The Depress' goal is twofold: To elect a Democratic Board, and to be a "player" in the New Jersey political scene. Their parent company, Gannett, can be viewed as either a third political party, or a special interest group like the New Jersey Educational Association.
It is important in a free society to have a free press vigilant to governmental abuse. But when that press goes beyond vigilance and slants its reporting to suit an agenda, just how free are we?

BISHOP ON SCHOOL DISTRICTS

"Where’s the “Tax Revolt” like the one our founding fathers declared in the 1776 American Revolution?
"Rather than fight, taxpayers are heading south where government is much cheaper than New Jersey’s State, County and Municipal governments."
...Gordon Bishop.

Award-winning columnist Gordon Bishop has an interesting take on the 611 overlapping school districts here in New Jersey. There are only 566 municipalities in the state, meaning that there are 45 more school districts than there are towns!
Bishop explains the history behind how we got there.

LINCOLN DAY '07!!!

The following went out today from Republican Headquarters:

Dear Fellow Republican:
The 44th Annual Lincoln Day Reception will be held on Monday, February 19, 2007 at Addison Park (formerly The Garden Manor), Route 35, Aberdeen. We hope you will attend and be part of the excitement!

Our cocktail hour starts at 6 pm with three hours of butler hors d’oeuvres and serving stations. The program will start at 7 pm featuring our exciting guest speakers and candidates. Tickets are $45 per person and may be obtained using the order form below. This is the largest gathering of its kind in the State. Please join all of your elected officials and candidates for a night of good food, fellowship and fun! As in past years, a Souvenir Program Journal will be published. We need your help and greatly appreciate your continued support of this very important effort. Please follow up on your previous years’ ads and solicit new ones as well. Remind supporters that over 600 people attend this event and will see their advertisement. A 2007 Souvenir Program Journal form is enclosed.

Why not consider a Municipal Page, highlighting your 2006 local winners, your county committee or club? The success of this event depends on your support. Be part of the new energy we are experiencing in the Monmouth County Republican Party.

With best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

ADVERTISING RATES

FULL PAGE AND RESERVED TABLE OF TEN TICKETS . . . . $600
GOLD PAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $300
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PATRON (One line name and address) . . . . .. . . . . . . . $25

DEADLINE FOR ADS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2007
Please make your check payable to:
“MCRC”
P.O. Box 808 • Freehold, NJ 07728
Telephone (732) 431-6664 • Fax (732) 431-6619
Sponsorships Available: Bar $1000 (6); Music $1000; Entertainment $1000
(Call For Additional Information)

DIRECTOR BARHAM AGAIN

Freeholder Director William C. Barham was selected this afternoon for another year guiding the county ship.
The Deputy Director for 2007 is Lillian G. Burry, replacing Robert D. Clifton. The other freeholders are Anna C. Little, Republican, and Barbara McMorrow, Democrat.
Outgoing Freeholder Theodore J. Narozanick was honored with a portrait, to be displayed in the Hall of Records. Ted was honored as "Freeholder Emeritus" a few weeks ago.
The vast editorial staff here at the Monmouth County Republican Blog wishes Director Barham, Deputy Director Burry and the entire Board the best of luck in 2007!

HAZLET DEM ANNOUNCES FOR SHERIFF

The Independent reports last week that Det. Glen Mason of the Hazlet Township Police Dept. has announced his candidacy to run against award-winning Sheriff Joe Oxley.
Mason is expected to retire from his municipal job this year.
No newcomer to politics, Mason is a Democratic County Committeeman in Hazlet, the former hometown of County Democratic Boss Victor Scudiery. He has also served on the Hazlet Board of Education.
Oxley earned the 2006 Ferris E. Lucas Sheriff of the Year Award at the National Sheriffs’ Association Annual Conference and Exposition.

RESOLVE TO BE UNITED IN '07

A good New Years' resolution for Monmouth County Republicans is to be united this year. That doesn't mean being mind-numbed, lockstep Kool-Aid® drinkers, it simply means to start acting like a team!
In 2006 we lost the first freeholder race since 1986 - 20 years ago. The reality is, Andrew Lucas didn't have to lose. The reality also is that the Democrats are now looking at Monmouth County and salivating. Salivating that yet another domino is going to fall.
Let's take a look at what's at stake this year:

The Legislature

All legislative seats are up this year. Wouldn't it be nice to take back both houses? Of course it would! So, let's work together here in our own corner of the state for that goal. We need to hold Districts 11 and 13, and retake the senate seat and one assembly seat in 12. 13 looks OK right now, but the withdrawal of Assemblyman Steve Corodemus opens two vacancies in 11. It is expected that Assemblyman Sean Kean will go for retiring Senator Joe Palaia's seat, but there may be some jockeying by newcomers for the two Assembly positions. OK, but once the choice of candidates is made, people need to put their egos in a drawer and get behind the team. In District 12, a number of names have been bandied about as challengers to the two Democratic legislators, Senator Ellen Kärcher and Assemblyman Michael Panter. Again, let's stay united here.
We don't want to see a Democratic sweep of our legislative districts.

The County

We not only have two freeholders up this year, Rob Clifton and Anna Little, we also have both County Clerk Claire French and Sheriff Joe Oxley having to run for reelection! So ya think the Democrats will be pouring money into the county race? Ya think the Asbury Park Depress will endorse the Democrats, no matter what? Ya think?
Count on it!
Control of the county government is at stake for the first time since the 80's, and the Democrats smell blood. This, sadly, won't be like the 80's, where the Democrats might get control for a year or two and then we're back. No, they are playing for keeps this time. If they get in, it will be very hard to dislodge them. An obvious example is Bergen County, until recently a Republican powerhouse. The GOP became disunited and the Democrats slithered right in. The Bergen Republicans remain split, and the Dems remain solidly in control. Passaic County is another example. Also once under GOP control (The RNC's Mike DuHaime's father was Freeholder Director there.); the Dems got a foothold and are now firmly in possession.
Democrat bucks will be wheeled into Monmouth County from all over the state this year. Let's unite behind our team and make it all a waste of money for the Dems.

Locals

Big towns - that means you, Howell and Middletown - get it together.
Howell has no local race this year, so here's an opportunity to put aside local differences and help the county team.
Middletown, like the county, has control at stake. Time to resolve the local issues that have been eroding pluralities, then go forward, or local Democrat Boss Joe Caliendo will be king again like back in the 70's.
Other towns are big enough to make a difference. Places like Wall, Neptune, Ocean, Manalapan, Aberdeen, Freehold Twp. and Hazlet should all do their best not only to keep or regain local control, but to try and build pluralities for the county and legislative teams.

TIME TO CUT THE CRAP

William H. Seward has an important statement from Freeholder Anna C. Little addressing acts of character assassination leveled against her on a blog which was formerly linked here but since this has been started has been de-linked.
The posts and comments on that blog are reminiscent of those made here about a year ago which caused me to end anonymous commenting and activate comment moderation, as well as those made on Ronald Reagan's and Wally Edge's blogs which caused me to de-link both of them.
Sadly, it appears that this rumor activity is coming from within our own Republican Party; from a faction or sub-faction which lost at three County Conventions. A faction or sub-faction that would like to bring back the "bad old days" of the boy's club.
The best way to fight this type of activity is by confronting it head-on with the truth. Freeholder Little has done that.
Hopefully now these morons trying to destroy her will cut the crap.

WHO WILL BE DIRECTOR FOR 2007?

!!!UPDATE!!!

According to today's (January 3, '07) APP, Director Bill Barham has the votes for another year.

Every year by state law the Board of Chosen Freeholders must select one of its members to serve as Director, and the time will soon be upon us.
Freeholder William C. Barham, the current director, has held the leadership for the past year, having succeeded Thomas J. Powers in the directorship. At the present time, it looks like two freeholders have emerged as contenders for the job. It is said that Barham would like another year at the helm, and Freeholder Lillian G. Burry is said to be actively interested in the directorship. Some GOP activists are said to like Freeholder Robert D. Clifton to be director, and Freeholder Anna C. Little as deputy director; it is unknown at this time whether Rob and Anna are interested. It is also not certain who has the votes to become director. One must be able to count to three. (votes)
What's your opinion? Who do you think will be director? Who would you like to see? Would a second year of Bill Barham bring continuity, or would we be in danger of an "imperial directorship" of one-man rule, as under the late Harry Larrison, Jr? Should it be rotated from year to year like the mayoralty in many towns? If so, who should be the next to step up? Lillian? Rob? Anna?
Let us know.

GERALD R. FORD, JR. 1913 - 2006

APP SCOOPED!!!

UPDATE

Great Op-ed piece today (January 3, '07) by Chairman Adam Puharic. And where is Barbara McMorrow on all this??? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm?????

The staff at the Asbury Park Depress reads the Monmouth County Republican Blog, it's true. We have it on good authority that star reporter Bob "The Bald Avenger" Cullinane himself logs on frequently.
Over a week ago, this blog reported on the impending relocation of the Matawan Motor Vehicle Agency, Rebecca Aaronson, agent, to Hazlet's Airport Plaza Strip Mall, County Democratic Boss Victor Scudiery, owner. Aaronson is also Scudiery's vice chairman.
This past Wednesday, the APP finally reported on the subject. Five days after we ran the story. Today (Dec. 23, '06), they ran another article and an editorial critical of the move.
What were they waiting for?

A COURT GONE OUT OF BOUNDS

Assemblyman Michael Carroll writes about the New Jersey Supreme Court and its serial rewriting of the State Constitution. The Court, which often uses "because we said so" as the legal basis for its decisions, has been compared by some Republicans to the Soviet Politburo.
This is an ongoing problem in this state, and is an issue for all of our legislators to ponder. The State Senate votes to confirm all judicial appointments. With open senate seats in the 11th and 12th districts, GOP committee members should press potential candidates on where they stand on judicial appointments. Senators should not unquestioningly confirm every hack the governor sends down the pipeline.
It is important that the checks and balances of three co-equal branches of government are not disrupted by a rogue branch, in this case the judiciary.

TENANT FOUND FOR VACANT HAZLET STORE!

A vacant furniture store in Hazlet's Airport Plaza will be fallow no more. The state Motor Vehicle Commission, which has maintained an agency on Route 34 in Matawan for over 20 years, will be relocating to the Route 36 location in January.
Defeated former Democratic Freeholder candidate Rebecca Aaronson of Manalapan is the agent at that office.
It was not ascertained at press time whether Airport Plaza landlord and County Democratic Boss Victor Scudiery would receive rent payments for the space, or if he was letting it out of the goodness of his heart.