DiMaso To Enter The Freeholder Race
Holmdel Mayor Patrick Impreveduto, Deputy Mayor Serena DiMaso and Senator Joe Kyrillos at a June 2010 fundraiser. Photo credit: livingmedia.com
Holmdel Deputy Mayor told MMM that she intends to inform GOP Chairman Joe Oxley that she will be a candidate for Rob Clifton’s seat on the Monmouth County Freeholder Board this week.
DiMaso said she has garnered the support of many Monmouth County Republican leaders, including Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, and that she is 100% committed to becoming a Freeholder in this, her third attempt at seeking the office.
DiMaso lost the 2005 nomination to Lillian Burry and the 2008 nomination to John Curley. She said she is excited about the prospect of being Curley’s running mate in November and hopes to have his support at the January 14th Monmouth GOP convention which will elect Clifton’s successor. Clifton, the current Freeholder Director, is vacating his seat in order to be sworn into the State Assembly, which he was elected to on November 8.
2011 GOP Freeholder contenders: Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas, Howell Mayor Bob Walsh, Wall Committeeman George Newberry and Freeholder-elect Gary Rich. Photo credit Rhoda Chodosh
In what is sure to be an interesting undercurrent of the race to fill the vacancy, DiMaso says she has the support of Howell Municipal Chairman John Costigan. Howell Mayor Bob Walsh, who has won his races in Howell as an Independent, is the other declared candidate in the Freeholder race. Walsh sought the nomination in 2011, losing to now Freeholder-elect Gary Rich.
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00hh I scooped the Howell angle.
BTW Walsh technically did not loose last time out he withdrew before the vote.
Technically true, TR, but would Bob have withdrawn if he was on the verge of winning?
Of course not but I am still technically correct.
The truth is I knew a week after I started that I had no chance. A friend of mine for 15 years told me he could not help me because I had started 2 months to late. Because of personal family obligations I could not have entered my name for consideration until the time I did.
Knowing I had no chance was not a deterent in going forward as I had a good time going town to town throughout the county meeting people. Monmouth County is a very diverse area in which to live and it was a good thing to hear the needs and wants from republicans in different parts of the county. It helped me put in perspective my own thoughts in relation to the job I currently enjoy doing. I am the mayor of Howell which in itself is a very diverse town and at times has, on a smaller scale, many of the same problems that the county has. I believe my experience helped me to be a better mayor and I hope I represented Howell in a positive light.
I have shared with Charman Joe Oxley that God willing I would like to be considered as a candidate for the office of Freeholder in Monmouth County and am looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones traveling this wonderful county of ours.
God Bless and from time to time I will post some thoughts or answer a question.
Respectfully Yours
Mayor Bobby Walsh
My God, we in Monmouth County deserve better than this.
is “better,” in your mind, 58?..
News from Howell:
The truth hurts but it is what it is. The problem with any candidate from Howell is the train wreck that comes with it. It is the reason that other strong candidates from Howell have not made it. You get this small flea bag, rag-tag bunch that fight one another on everything.
You have a chairman in Costigan that got literally thrown out of Hazlet (yes we remember) and then he sets up shop in Howell and becomes chair. He lies to Joe Oxley’s face that he supports him and then challenges him for County Chair, really sticking it to Joe. Joe beat him but do you get the picture? Costigan has as much credibility as Pamela Anderson would if she was the spokesperson for breast enhancement services. Better yet he has the same credibility as Anna Little saying she will run for US Senate.
Then there is Bobbie Walsh. He told the whole town he’d never seek higher office and he mocked those that were using Howell as a stepping stone. He stood up at a local firehouse while running locally and said he would never run for higher office, ever. And here is he stepping up (or trying to step up) himself. He plays the “Rocky Balboa” routine (can you say “Yo Adrienne”) which is just old and humiliating for the town. He has worn out his welcome in Howell (and bought his way out too) and if he were to run again here locally, he loses big time.
Costigan has stacked the county committee with his drones. These are people that just come to meetings to vote his way. Uninformed and uninterested. He appointed them to vacancies or filled them privately during the last election. This way he has smartly stacked the deck for himself. This should be investigated. Howell has 60 votes and Costigan can make sure that Bobbie gets less than 20 or 25. Not good. You got to be able to win your own town in a convention.
The problem is does the County really want to hitch their wagon to Howell? There was a good councilwoman from there who went for the nomination a few years back, Cynthia Shomaker. She lost to Lilian actually. She was a rising star. Howell ruined her. She waked away. Joe Dibella was another strong candidate. Had Costigan supported him he’d likely be a freeholder or assemblyman by now. Now he’s out. Costigan had a sting of huge losses year over year with other good candidates as well and lost them all. He won in Howell last time only due to the Christie sweep. Bad chairman but not going away.
With Howell you get this mess. Worse than Manalapan. Do we need this fractured team in Freehold? Is picking someone from there what is best for the County? Can this bunch unify and help beat a strong candidate like Hornick or another strong candidate?
The truth is stay away from Howell.
What amazes me is the number of people who can’t just support who they like with a reasoned argument as to why their candidate is better but must ridicule, spread nasty rumors about and just be nasty about the opposition. Just once could we not do that.
Good luck Mr. Walsh, You seem to be a class act.
Truth Hurts,
Tsk, Tsk. Such Hate So Early In The Morning.
How’s if feel to be so angry when you get out of bed? That aside, if you have problems, work it out with the people involved. Take your vengeance elsewhere.
The “truth hurts” is not to demean any candidate. It is simply the truth. It is not about being angry or seeking to ridicule. It just is what it is. The County cannot afford to get mixed up in another train wreck (think Malcolm, Brookdale, Anna, etc.). Enough with the messes. Have we learned nothing? It is a shame but with Howell comes all sorts of messes. These are also not problems to be worked out. The statements are points of fact and with Howell you cannot work these sort of things out. For 30 years I and others have watched and it is just a bad scene. Think about the general election for once: who can really win and not drag us all down? Trust me, it is not someone from Howell.
So because you don’t like Costigan we shouldn’t vote for Walsh who Costigan doesn’t like but fro Serena who Costigan does like? Or is it Howell is nuts so don’t vote for anyone from Howell except two previous Howell politicians who would have been good but Howell destroyed them. Oh by the way Costigan was not Chairman during the Dibella era so how did stop Dibella from being a Freeholder. Another flash bulletin Costigan long opposed Walsh getting into the Howell Republican club. Walsh just got in over Costigans objection with a sizeable amount of the vote . I think like 80% maybe Costigan is not so powerful after all.
Finally let me say this. I think either of the two declared candidates would be an excellent addition to the Board. They are very different and would each bring something different to the Board. I don’t think we go wrong either way.
Look, the bottom line is that Costigan won’t even support the guy so what does that say? Not to mention, Howell is a train wreck to take candidates from. The truth is pick someone else that has a unified county committee and party backing. Trust me, leave this bunch at the alter and find another solid “Gary Rich” type that brings no dirty laundry.
Bob Walsh will not represent the County well at all. He is not professional and is more interested in telling peope he is Mayor than doing the work involved in being Mayor. He wants to be a Freeholder because its more power and a bigger name. John Costigan is a seasoned, salty political player. He is right to back someone else and we are all best doing the same. We need a fresh, young face that is new to the business and can get elected. This is not Bob. He is finished as Mayor, bored with it and he has lost the support of the community. If he does not get to go Freehold, he likely just gets to go home (and play more golf).
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