From the getting way ahead of ourselves department, what impact would Joe Kyrillos’ election to the U.S. Senate next year have on the Monmouth County political landscape?
Kyrillos’ entry into the U.S. Senate field is probably an indication that bio-tech entrepreneur John Crowley will not be a candidate. As a former State GOP Chairman and Christie confidant, Kyrillos would not announce an exploratory committee if he had not already explored the level of support he would have with the GOP power and fundraising establishment. Should Kyrillos seek the nomination to challenge Senator Robert Menendez, he will probably get it.
If Kyrillos beats Menendez we will probably also have a new President on January 20, 2013. For Menendez to be beat in 2012, Obama’s showing in New Jersey will have to be weak and without coat tails.
Should that happen, the Monmouth County Republican Committee would elect a 13th district Senator who would serve until a special election in November of 2013. Assembly members Amy Handlin and Declan O’Scanlon would likely seek to move up into Kyrillos’ seat. If one of the Assembly members moves up, the committee would then be charged with filling an Assembly vacancy.
The field for the Assembly seat could be crowded, as there is a deep bench of GOP talent residing in the new 13th district.
Middletown is the largest town in the district and has a wealth of electable talent. Freeholder John Curley, Mayor Tony Fiore and former Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger would all be strong candidates. Scharfenberger would face giving up his job in the Christie administration. Curley, who will probably be Freeholder Director in 2012 with Rob Clifton moving to the Assembly in the 12th district, would have a tough choice between Freehold and Trenton.
If Curley sought and won the Assembly seat, it would set off a county wide race for his replacement on the Freeholder Board, assuming he is reelected next year.
Fair Haven Mayor Mike Halfacre, the only Mayor in history to lower property taxes four years in a row, would be a formidable candidate.
Marlboro, the second largest town in the district would probably be the source of Democratic candidates. Mayor Jon Hornick would have his shot to move up. He would be a strong Senate candidate against Handlin or O’Sanlon. Jeff Cantor could be a Democratic candidate for Assembly. The Marlboro GOP has yet to recover from the splits that contributed to Hornik defeating former Mayor Robert Kleinberg in 2007 or Cantor’s switch to the Democratic party in 2009. Cantor was a GOP candidate for Freeholder in 2007.
Hazlet Mayor Scott Aagre would deserve consideration should he have aspirations for higher office. Union Beach Councilman Charlie Cocuzza is popular and ambitious.
Keyport Mayor Robert McCleod, a former municipal judge who took one for the team to run against Frank Pallone in 2008 could decide that he is better suited to serve in the Assembly than to preside over the rough and tumble of Keyport politics.
Former Highlands Mayor and former Freeholder Anna Little could be a contender depending upon how her 2012 congressional ambitions work out.
If Little doesn’t run, her close ally, Atlantic Highlands Mayor Fred Rast could be a contender.
From the southern part of the new 13th, Oceanport Councilman Joe Irace has made a good name for himself as a strong advocate of Oceanport’s interests with Fort Monmouth and Monmouth Park. However, Irace’s advocacy for Oceanport has ruffled feathers with Republicans in the County, the Legislature and the Christie administration. He would need a strong grassroots organization to move up.
From the Monmouth GOP should have conventions department, if Freeholder Director Rob Clifton is elected to the Assembly this November, the Monmouth Republican Committee will be required to have a Title 19 convention to choose his replacement on the Freeholder Board in early 2012. Should Kyrillos go to Washington in early 2013, the Monmouth GOP could potentially have three Title 19 conventions in early 2013; one to elect Kyrillos’ replacement in the State Senate, one to choose a 13th district Assembly member assuming either Handlin or O’Scanlon moves up to the Senate and one to elect a Freeholder should Curley seek and win the vacant Assembly seat.
It will all be enough to turn Chairman Joe Oxley grey, assuming he is reelected Chairman next June.
America is in trouble. We have a massive debt hanging over us, a tax and regulatory burden stifling job creation and innovation, and a government we can no longer afford but cannot seem to rein in. There is a growing sense that our children’s future prosperity is slipping away.
It is time to prove again what a free and enterprising people are capable of doing. I know we can reverse the precipitous course America is on because we are doing it here in New Jersey today. I have been proud to stand with the Governor to motivate conservative reforms that will make our state stronger and more competitive. We need the same honest, tough-love approach in Washington.
I have formed an exploratory committee to seek out ways to help our great country which may include running for the United States Senate. As the son and grandson of immigrants who moved to this country in search of freedom and opportunity, I know and believe in the power of the American dream. And as a father with a young family, I also know we must put our country back on the path to future strength and opportunity. In the months ahead, I look forward to traveling the state to learn and discuss how we can work together to put America back on track.
State Senator Joe Kyrillos has set up an exploratory committee for a possible U.S. Senate run in 2012 against Robert Menendez or 2014 against Frank Lautenberg, an unnamed source told Politickernj.
An exploratory committee, or “testing the waters fund” may raise and spend over the $5,000 threshold that requires candidate reporting on polling, travel and other activities designed to gauge the level of support for a candidate for federal office, according to the Federal Election Commission.
Kyrillos has yet to respond to a message from MMM to comment on the Politickernj story.
A source with knowledge of Kyrillos’ plans confirmed that Monmouth County’s senior legislator will issue a statement announcing the exploratory committee today.
Strong New Jersey Chairwoman Diane Gooch told NJ.com’s Auditorthat she’d be an enthusiastic candidate for congress against either Frank Pallone or Rush Holt:
A scandal — and an opportunity
Diane Gooch may be looking to transform U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner’s shame into her political gain.
Gooch, who wanted to take on U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6th Dist.) last year but lost the GOP primary to tea party favorite Anna Little, last week launched a “nationwide internet campaign” with the website WeinerMustResign.com. It is paid for by a nonprofit political organization that Gooch set up last summer.
In addition to the website, Gooch has been interviewed on a dozen radio shows and denounced Weiner (D-N.Y.), who is under fire for sending lewd photos of himself to women over the internet. She also plans to air radio ads on WABC, which features a stable of conservative talk show hosts.
So why does a wealthy Rumson Republican care so much about a Manhattan
congressman’s sex scandal?
“I care because he’s a congressman, and I think all congressmen should have integrity and common sense,” said Gooch, publisher of the Two River Times in Red Bank.
Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the effort builds Gooch’s name ID in case she wants to run again for a House seat. Visitors to the political committee’s website are hit immediately with a picture of Gooch, and a 451-word bio of her is just one click away. The committee, Strong New Jersey, raised $239,000 in 2010 — $99,000 from Gooch and $140,000 from her husband, Mickey.
Gooch said she hasn’t decided whether she’ll run because New Jersey’s congressional districts have yet to be redrawn.
“If they hand me a great district and I think I can beat (Democratic U.S. Reps.) Frank Pallone or (Rush) Holt, you better believe I’ll be there,” she told The Auditor.
Congressman Anthony Weiner continues to ignore calls from the highest levels of his party to resign his office. He wants a leave of absence and rehabilitation instead.
TMZ.com released 11 photos that Weiner took of himself with his blackberry in the House of Representatives Gym. Some were clothed, some nude or near nude. All weird. All sent to at least one woman.
I don’t see why Weiner even wants to hang on at this point. His political career is over.
Weiner should be calling Charlie Sheen and/or Jerry Springer looking for a gig as a reality TV show co-host.
Something has been bothering me about the Jersey Shore Workcamp project I wrote about yesterday. It is the same thing that bothered me about a similar project I wrote about in July of 2009.
Why are churches and high schools throughout the country sending teenagers here to Monmouth County New Jersey to fix up the homes of the needy? Why are 440 kids coming here next month to do their charitable work instead of going to Newark, Camden, New Orleans, Mississippi or the South Bronx?
Rumson Mayor John Ekdahl is raising money, tax deductible money, for the Rumson fireworks. He sent a letter to residents of Rumson, Navesink and Fair Haven asking for contributions to the Rumson Endowment Fund, Inc, a 501 c 3, to fund Rumson’s $100,000 fireworks display.
In the TRTarticle, Ekdahl is quoted as saying that the Rumson fireworks mirror the famous Red Bank Kaboom fireworks. 7500 people enjoy the Rumson show, not including private parties. 5000 of those people watch pyrotechnics from the Oceananic Bridge where they have great views of both the Rumson and Red Bank fireworks.
I have nothing against fireworks, I just don’t like crowds. I went to the Red Bank fireworks once in the 90’s. The show was spectacular but the crowd was too much for me. For the last couple of years I’ve preferred to watch the NY fireworks from a distance on my deck in Highlands while listening to the Red Bank and Rumson shows. Even if the Gooches or the Halls invited me to a private fireworks party I would think twice for fear that the short drive to and from home would take hours with all the traffic.
I think the good people of Rumson, Navesink and Fair Haven should spend their money however they like. If they want to chip in $100,000 per year for fireworks for all to enjoy, fine with me.
But there is something unseemly about the fact that a week later 440 kids from throughout the country will be coming to the neighborhood, and paying $449 each to do so, in order to fix up the homes of the poor and disabled.
Anyone who wants to volunteer or contribute to the Jersey Shore Workcamp can contact Bill Bechtoldt at 732-671-1036.
The shared services initiatives spearheaded by Monmouth County government have been extremely successful. Under often difficult circumstances, the county has provided key services and recorded very significant cost savings to local partners.
It is estimated the county has saved municipalities millions of dollars through successful sharing of 911 dispatch, public works assistance, Planning Board, cooperative purchasing, information technology and digital records management, among others.
For example, one municipality publicly reported an estimated savings of more than $600,000 per year by participating in the county shared services dispatch program conducted through the Sheriff’s Office. I am pleased to report Neptune Township recently joined the county’s shared services dispatch program, which will save local taxpayers $1 million over the life of the agreement and generate $1.8 million in revenue for the county over the same period, helping to offset expenses and hold the line on taxes.
Monmouth County shares services with all 53 municipalities in an effort to reduce local costs through strong community partnerships. The success of the initial program has allowed for expansion into additional partnerships with police departments, fire departments, first aid squads, authorities, commissions and public schools and institutions of higher learning.
Recently, I instructed our shared services staff to perform a Web-based survey of municipal partners that will serve as a catalyst to an expanded shared services program. This comprehensive survey, which is being conducted now, will help solidify the focus of the program going forward. Based upon the survey responses, the county will continue to streamline and improve its outreach, education and implementation methods to best serve the needs of the community.
The initial response from the survey has been overwhelmingly positive in favor of increasing shared services and expanding the county outreach program. For example, initial responses indicate 100 percent of respondents would consider increasing their use of shared services if the county provided the service at a cost that is less than they currently pay, allowing them to deliver quality services to their constituents at a reduced cost.
Ninety percent of respondents who have used Monmouth County’s shared services stated they are extremely likely or very likely to use the services again in the near future. Nearly 52 percent of respondents stated they first learned of shared services from a Monmouth County shared services representative, from the county shared services Web site or by attending a county shared services seminar or educational outreach event.
Further initial responses showed 100 percent have considered implementing shared services in their own town in an effort to reduce costs. Ninety-six percent of respondents said they would benefit from access to a centralized county Web-based database and interactive posting site and 96 percent said they would have strong interest in attending county sponsored shared services seminars and speaker series.
A large majority indicated a “user fee” was the most attractive way for their organization to pay for shared services, solidifying the county model of covering costs, providing quality services and generating revenues.
Under my leadership, Monmouth County shared services will continue to offer top-quality services to its local partners. Due to economies of scale, the county’s fee-based business model often will provide these services for less than what it would cost a town or school district to do the work themselves, or what it would cost an outside provider to do it, therefore saving taxpayers money.
In addition, the county will be able to offset its costs by pursuing increased revenue opportunities through the newly developing fee-based system. In today’s economic climate, shared services have ceased to be an option and have indeed become a necessity if governments are to deliver top quality services to constituents at more affordable costs.
The new two percent cap and rising institutional costs such as health care and pensions will make the upcoming budget year perhaps the most difficult ever. With true leadership and courage we must continue to tackle these difficult issues head on.
I will not be deterred by the criticism of those who seek self service over progress. Together, we must seize this moment in history to continue to expand shared services if we are to reduce the heavy tax burden on New Jersey citizens and preserve the high quality of life we all have come to enjoy in Monmouth County.
Everyone has certain ideas that they’d like to be remembered for. When you write a weekly column, you end up with a few of them.
One of mine is this: “Politics is 1% of who we are. Never let that stop you from getting to know the other 99% of a person.”
Last night I went to a party in Asbury Park to honor this year’s Independence Day Parade Grand Marshal, Hazel Samuels.
As I was handshaking and hugging old friends I hadn’t seen for some time, from the other side of a large round table someone introduced me to Vin Gopal.
Since candidates become captive audiences during campaign season to anyone who wants to talk to them, I figured I’d go over and get a sense of the 11th District Assembly candidate for the Democrats.
I ended up meeting a very likable fellow. Vin’s physical demeanor is comfortable. He sat in his chair sort of laid back and to the side rather than stiffly composed. He wasn’t trying to dominate the people around him. His conversational tone was just that. There were no contrived candidate sound bites. No “handlers” trying keep our conversation brief. Although I’m sure he was “working the room” as candidates do, he did so in a way that made it seem he belonged in the room – that he was one of the gang. A real natural.
I did want to get into some issues, so I did the right thing and let Vin know that I am a journalist and asked him if I could go on the record with him so I wouldn’t sandbag him. That’s the right way to handle that by the way. There is a wrong way to do that, for instance if I were a member of the Highlands Republican Club, I wouldn’t go to a meeting as a club member, secretly decide everyone was on the record without telling them, and report what I heard, like you know who did.
Anyway, Vin made some interesting points that conservatives might like. Let me share one in particular:
Something that irks Vin Gopal is unemployment insurance in New Jersey. Vin is a small business owner. He thinks unemployment is too easy to get, too easy to stay on and too easy to take unfair advantage of against employers. He wants the system revised to be friendlier to business.
Very interesting! I would have expected an answer like that from a Republican at a Chamber of Commerce meeting.
One last point: None of the Republican candidates were at the Asbury Park dinner, nor was Dan Jacobson. I’ll note that when Sean Kean was the assemblyman and senator here, even though Asbury Park never voted for him, Sean supported and attended every Asbury Park function. Thanks for being there, Vin Gopal.
While the NJEA and CWA are pressuring the Democrats in the Legislature to stop the pension and benefit reforms that Governor Christie and Senate President Sweeney have agreed to, the media is looking to create public sympathy for state retirees.
The Asbury Park Press has a piece this morning, Former NJ state workers ask: Now what? The article by Jason Method of Gannett’s Statehouse bureau is an expose of the worries of a 85 year old retired DOT bus inspector who faces possible increased co-pays for his life saving medicine and the loss of cost of living adjustments under the Christie-Sweeney plan. The three time cancer survivor who still remembers to worst bus accident he ever investigated and is taking care of his son who has been out of work for three years is worried.
His son, who is probably in his 50’s or 60’s should be very worried. If junior had followed in his father’s footsteps and taken a state job he wouldn’t be a burden on dear old Dad.
The millions of private sector workers and business owners who will pay the bill for the state workers retirement and health care before they pay for their own should also be very worried. We’ve been worried for years. Very worried for the last three years as we have cut back expenses and adjusted our expectations for the future based on the reality that the borrowing and speculation orgy that fuel economic “growth” over the last twenty years is over.
The fifth biennial Jersey Shore Workcamp will occur in Monmouth County during the week of July 10th through 16th.
Founded by Bill and Gail Bechtoldt, the owners of Koch Flowers and Gifts, Middletown, in 1999, the project brings 440 teenagers from throughout North America to perform home repairs for the needy.
This year the project has accepted 130 applications for home repairs. Bill Bechtoldt expects that the camp will complete between 80 and 100 of the requested repairs during the week that the teenagers are working.
Here’s a video of an NJN report on the camp in 2007:
The Bechtoldt’s are looking for help from the community as they prepare for the teenagers arrival.
There is a need for 200 ladders, both steps and extensions, which will be returned upon completion of the project.
Donations of paint brushes and rollers are needed.
Volunteer labor is needed on July 6, 7, and 8th to dig holes and pour concrete at seven sites where wheelchair ramps will be built during the project. The bearings must be inspected before the teenagers can build the ramps.
Volunteers are also need to deliver paint and other materials to the sites on July 6,7 an 8.
Bechtoldt is also looking for volunteers for the weeks after the camp to perform clean up and to complete repairs the campers do not reach.
Money is always needed. The cost of materials this year is $45,000.
To volunteer, lend a ladder or donate paint brushes or rollers contact Bill or Gail Bechtoldt at 732-671-1036.
Send money to Jersey Shore Workcamp, 1870 Route 35, Middletown, NJ 07748.
Jersey Shore Workcamp is a 501 c 3 non-profit.
High school students 14 years of age and older can still be enrolled into the project here.
