Let’s Name Names For That Freeholder Seat
With the Monmouth County Republican Election Day Sweep **long** behind us it’s time to look forward to the next big race, and I don’t mean the Presidential election of 2012, I mean the race for the open Monmouth County Freeholder seat now that Rob Clifton is moving up to the State Assembly. It’ll be up the Monmouth County Republican Committee Members (and I bet there are quite a few who don’t even know it) to vote for his replacement and it seems the horse trading and whisper campaigns have already begun, in fact they seem to have started a while back as if Rob’s election to the Assembly was certain.
My usual disclaimer: Don’t expect to get insider information out of me. If I know, or think I know something, I’m sure its that I’m among the last to know and it’s only a repeat of information someone else passed on to me.
Here are the names I’ve heard or been told are considering seeking the seat, and some names that I’ll add to spread my own rumors and get the discussion going.
Bob Burlew of Keyport seems to be interested in the seat according to multiple people. I’d normally be glad to name my sources names here but the truth is that at least three different people mentioned this to me and I speak to a lot of people about a lot of different things so I don’t want to misquote anyone. I don’t know anything about Bob Burlew, but I have met Bob a few times, seems like a nice enough guy. Maybe my old pal, Keyport Mayor Bob McLeod, or some other Keyport reader/Bayshore guy can chime in with all of the positive things about Bob, you can keep any negatives to yourself, this should be a friendly contest, right? FWIW – Bob has a brother, Ed. Ed was one of the recent county elections that went to a recount. I must have ADD or something as that tid-bit is irrelevant, but i figured I’d pass it on so readers would be know.
Speaking of Bobs, it’s hard to overlook that Howell Mayor Bob Walsh, who dropped out of this year’s primary the morning of the nominating votes, ran the circuit with Gary and Lillian. There was not a candidate’s forum or fundraiser (that I attended) that I didn’t also see Bob Walsh. Either Bob is a good, dedicated Republican (like me!) or Bob (and I) wanted to remind folks he’s around and ready to serve as a Freeholder. For the record, I am not available or ready to serve as a Freeholder, but thanks for considering me! I appreciate your support but I’m going to have to turn you down, this time. Worth noting that Bob Walsh seems to have a friend in Jim Gianell from Red Bank and Jim seems to have a lot of solid connections, and more important, I’ve spoken to Jim enough to believe that Jim is another libertarian leaning/conservative Republican so I think if a like-minded guy is pushing Walsh, it’s because Walsh is probably on the same page too. I can confirm that Bob is a likable guy, his line is that Howell is 53,000 people and 63sq miles and everyone of them from end to end love him — his ego might be burst but I think he’s mistake, my parents who live in Howell would love him more if someone repaved Larabee Blvd at Alexander down near Rt547/9 where those Russian churches are, it’s pretty bad – I won’t drive my beater car down that road. However, of slightly more importance, and also noteworthy, Bob Walsh may or may not have the support of someone I’m pround and honored to refer to as my friend, Howell Chairman Uncle John Costigan, who seemed to be supporting Lucas earlier in the year.
Speaking of Lucas, Manalapan Republicans won control of the township there. Lucas could be interested in the open seat, and his town would do just fine already in Republican hands, but I suspect his Preserved Farm purchase with the Freeholder board and his effort to get to State Assembly over Clifton may eliminate support for Lucas, who since I know you all care about my opinion, seems to be a good person and as far as I know and can tell from the few candidate forums I’ve spoken to him at, a good Republican. His story about when his child was born makes me laugh – the punchline is “…looks just like you!”, HA! Ask him for his views and position on abortion and he’ll tell you the story; the answer is that he’s solidly pro-life.
Outside of the Bobs and Lucas, another name to consider might be former Freeholder candidate and re-elected Town Committeeman, Wall’s George Newberry. I was, and still am, a big fan of George. Sure, I’ll hear how he comes across as a boring guy (which I don’t think is accurate) who speaks a little slower than a John Curley or Tom Arnone, but I had the pleasure of talking to George enough to believe that George is involved for the right reasons, and those reasons are doing the right things for taxpayers. The claims were that George was Chairman Joe Oxley’s “pick” this year. Chairman Oxley never directly told me George was his choice, never seemed to push him over any one else and if George was his “pick”, then I think Joe was backing a solid candidate and I don’t see why Joe, as a voter and a Chairman, shouldn’t get a vocal say and be able to support a guy he likes, if Joe even likes him, how would I know? And don’t get me wrong, after getting to know Gary, I’ve come to love him and I think the committee as a whole got it right to nominate Gary over George this time, but with a seat open again, in my mind, George is a good fit and ready to serve, today, along side John, Tom, Lillian and Gary, should he be interested, and I think he was the second highest vote getter at the nominating convention so some other folks probably agree with me. Of course, the knowledge of the masses in the entire committee may find another Gary Rich or John Curley, and that could certainly trump George as a candidate.
Some other folks worth noting, Joe Irace of Oceanport is always a well liked and popular guy who is a good, solid Republican.
Ocean Township has a list of good, solid Republicans they could push, Joe Hadden being one of them, and with State Committee Woman Christine Hanlon and Mary Pat from his town, he’d seem to have some strong advocates. Plus I’d volunteer for Joe and, clearly, I’m a proven King Maker!
Neptune Township has a young, rising star Jim Frostick who has Don and Jeff Beekman on the ally list along with (I think) the Neptune regulars in Jim Granelli, Warren Lapp and maybe/hopefully Former Mayors Mike Golub and Tom Catley. In a case of full disclosure — I work in the private sector as a VP of IS for the company where Jim is VP of Sales. If you haven’t met Jim Frostick yet, I suggest you do – he’s very inteligent, and humble, and has an outstanding work ethic and ability to be reasonable and rational. He currently serves on the BOE in Neptune, and I think he’s capable of much bigger things.
Middletown has it’s own long list of good Republicans, currently elected or not, it could push. I don’t personally know them, but I’m sure Chairman Carton does and with a large, active committee, I’m sure they could do well.
I’d also like throw Mayor Mike himself, Mike Halfacre from Fair Haven, who backed out of a US Congress run last year, into the race for a Freeholder seat, except I won’t because I’ve met his wife and she might not be interested in having Mike be a Freeholder. Mike has done a GREAT job addressing property tax issues in his town, I’d bet he could do a great job for the county as well. I should disclose: I’ve been the shooting range with Mike, he’s a very, very pro-2A guy, a decent shot and a heck of a nice guy to be around, so maybe I’m biased. Mike has his own set of anonymous trolls that like to bad mouth him here on MMM, but those clowns aside, Mike certainly seems to be a qualified guy with the right track record for a Freeholder. Plus the trolls will likely go after Mike for issues that just don’t apply to a Freeholder, ignore the trolls.
And again, don’t take my word for anything or think I’m here to tell you exactly who is running as if these are the only contenders, nor am I telling you who to nominate and vote for, I’m just an Average No One taking names (of Freeholder Candidates) and kicking ass (because if Lillian can say “kick ass” then so can I!). I’m sure in the vast field of anonymous cowards, one of you knows of at least one more name to consider or has some more solid information to share.
More from my site
Average Some One
Monmouth Democratic Nominating Convention Preview
James Hogan Might Seek the Dem Nomination Against Sean Kean
James Hogan Is Hanging It Up
Hogan Endorses Walsh For Freeholder
Booker vs Lonegan on Foreign Affairs, Syria
The Impression I Get
Who Said This?
Newberry Announces For Freeholder
Freeholder Candidate Selection
Of course I heartily second Jim Frostick for a Freeholder spot. I don’t even have to work with him to know he would be great for the job. I did have the honor of working FOR him to help him get elected to his Board Of Education seat. 🙂
He’s got a bright future ahead of him!
This was painful to read, how big is your ego jim?
Don’t discount the Tea Party people Mr Hogan. We are the ones that recommended Mr Rich over all others–including any consideration Oxley may have had. More than likely we will have some say in this matter as well. How convenient you left us out of the equation
this next decision the County party makes is BIG: we need someone with EXPERIENCE in succesfully running for, and serving in, elective office.. not just “nice guys”, people who have never even been to a Freeholder meeting, or people who come to the scene with NO volunteers or fundraising ability, or any service to, the County organization- that’s just not fair.. the plain truth is, everyone’s a “star”, and wants to move up and win,it’s fun to be up there under the big balloon arch at the victory party, and to be “somebody” county-wide.. but, very few can cut the mustard and work hard, raise money, and deliver enough votes in the next two years: Presidential in ’12, with about an 80% turnout coming, and Gubernatorial the next year,’13, with possible Christie- backlash from unions, and general snarkiness from overtired and over-taxed, voters!..the only two in the mix today, who bring the absolutely needed experience, Conservative values,people skills, a good voter-turnout base, likeability, and fundraising ability are George Newberry and Bob Walsh-period.. IMHO, Lucas had three shots and failed, two nominations and a loss in ’06,and, with getting Greenacres farmland money, is now unfortunately,poison to us, electorally,period.. had he been on our ticket this year, we’d be down to a 3-2 board, they’d both have been defeated..sorry, he has to give it up, for the good of the party.. Burlew’s a good worker and great guy, but is not elected, and we did NOT do well in the Bayshore, this year, check the local numbers.. Neptune, bless ya, is a work in progress, with no local wins in many years: so, where’s the base?..so, all you “wannabees”, and especially you “kingmakers,”, please be sincerely and respectfully warned: it’s gonna be very high standards and proven ability you have to meet, this go-round: be totally committed to all the craziness of campaigning in 53 towns- constant appearances, be willing to hit the trail and knock on the doors, twice in a row, with two sets of running-mates, raise a substantial amount of money, and bring us a good number of base support..and, that’s a lot to need to show us!!!.. forget popularity and “maybes”, and “works in progress”: we must be smart and pick a double-winner, this time!
I tend to go along with “Take time and think this through, please!”, in that we need an experienced candidate. One who can run and win in 2012 with John Curley and 2013 with Tom Arnone. We need to prevent the Lesniak and Norcross factions from gaining a beachhead on the Freeholder Board, let alone a majority. We saw what a disaster that was in 2009; it would have been logarithmically worse had Barbara McMorrow voted in lockstep with Flippy D’Amico 100% of the time.
The wildcard here is the fact that the County Committee members themselves will make the selection – not the municipal chairs, not Joe Oxley, not an advisory committee. This won’t be decided in a parlor overlooking the wide Navesink…
Whoever is chosen will be the Freeholder. They can be sworn in right after the vote. So anyone interested should get to work. And committee members should choose wisely.
hope all is well with you- welcome back, stop back more often!!
Honest Abe
IS THE FOLLOWING REALLY CORRECT, IN THAT COUNTY COMMITTEE PEOPLE ACTUALLY GET TO DO SOMETHING, REALLY?
“The wildcard here is the fact that the County Committee members themselves will make the selection – not the municipal chairs, not Joe Oxley, not an advisory committee. This won’t be decided in a parlor overlooking the wide Navesink”
1. Yes, Freespeaker1976, this is a situation in which a vote of the entire county committee is required, by state law. The screening committee is used for the purpose of selecting a candidate to run for office (i.e. get the “Republican Line” in the primary). The issue becomes who shows up and which members learn about candidates vs. just “take marching orders” from a chair.
2. Take Time. Good analysis. George Newberry just ran for re-election and hear that he is committed to his local obligations. Bob Walsh came in late last year then withdrew, based upon the fact that many of the individuals that he spoke to had already pledged to other candidates and Bob said as he was “a man of his word” it would not be appropriate to ask these individuals to renege. He made it very clear that he was interested should another seat be open and he reiterated this at all county events since that screening vote. He has the energy to actively campaign, ability to raise funds.
3. Tea Party. YES needs seat/say on this. Think Bob Walsh would screen well with this group.
4. Andrew Lucas. Been there, done that + farm = disaster. Shocked that his name keeps getting mentioned.
Are you serious? So this guy Jim (a nice guy Im sure) is smart and on the Neptune BOE. who cares? Folks, the best man doesnt always win in politics. Its all politics. Does the smartest, most educated and able man always succeed? no way ! I think Burry should be done. Time to move on but she won. I like Curley. He has balls and challenges everyone and everything. Arnone was a mayor of tiny Neptune City (not Neptune Twp.) and he runs a small lawmowing business there for 10 years. Does that enable him to be capable of running the county ? No way. Did he align himself with Rible/Kean and Oxley to get nomination despite his inexperience? Yes he did. None of this makes sense folks. These are politicians. They play the game. The cocktail/fundraising circuit if full of them every Monday thru. Thursday. I hate to be negative but I speak the truth.
Bobby Walsh, Tony Fiore, and Serena DiMaso.
Get your popcorn and stop by and watch the fun begin come February. The meetings were interesting before, but will be a blast in 2012.
Clifton is probably the smartest of the bunch, as he high tails out, just in time.
Will Azzes be kicked? We will see.
see you in freehold
Another woman should be on the board.
How about Flippy damico?
Being a freeholder would be much more rewarding to him than crying to his bff’s at the app about his judge’s pension that he worked all those (3) years for.
I’m sure he would gladly flip to the Republicans to get back in power.
Try running against golden boy republican Ocean County operative Joe Rullo to see how that cuts into Kyrillos conservative base and splits everyone up the middle giving him the balance. He is absolutely a winner over there in Ocean County every time as a Republican anyway.