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Doherty Is Not Running For Freeholder

Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty, left, and Governor Chris Christie, on the Belmar boardwalk last summer. Freeholder Director John Curley, the the background, right, will not be challenged by Doherty this November.

Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty, left, and Governor Chris Christie, on the Belmar boardwalk last summer. Freeholder Director John Curley, the the background, right, will not be challenged by Doherty this November.

Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty, a Democrat, told MMM that he will not be a candidate for Freeholder this year.

“John Curley is doing a good job.  He was the right choice to be Director,” Doherty said in a phone interview, ” as a mayor, I find John to be very responsive.  He acts without regard to partisanship.”

Doherty is not aware of any Democratic candidates in the field for Freeholder.

Regarding the race for the Monmouth County Democratic Chairmanship, Doherty said he thought either candidate, Frank “LaHornica” LaRocca or Vin Gopal, would do a good job.  “What those guys ( LaRocca and Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornick) did to win control of Marlboro is impressive.  But Vin is really hustling and I know him better.”

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Posted: January 27th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Monmouth County, Monmouth County Board of Freeholders | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

4 Comments on “Doherty Is Not Running For Freeholder”

  1. Dan Jacobson said at 8:00 am on January 28th, 2012:

    What a class act comment from Democrat Matt Doherty about Republican John Curley. I second it.

    I’ve covered John since he became a Red Bank Councilman a decade ago. From the moment he lost the Mayor’s race in Red Bank in 2006, the triCityNews gave him full-throttled editorial support in the effort to see him become a Freeholder. It is a wonderful story of a political comeback and the unlikely rise of a guy who was an outspoken outsider from the party establishment. In the end, the GOP rank and file overruled their leaders and elevated him as their standard-bearer. It’s turned out to be a great move.

    Our running joke in the paper was that we wanted John as a Freeholder because he is so colorful in office and we dreaded losing him as a story. At the same time, though, we let readers know about his fearless independence and outrageous work ethic. He’s terrific.

    As I’ve written and told John personally, I think he really found his calling in politics this past decade. He’s developed into one of the most effective elected officials I’ve seen in Monmouth County since I became involved in politics here in 1983.

    I think we can all be proud of the work he’s done. We’re fortunate to have him.

    Dan Jacobson
    Publisher
    triCityNews

  2. ArtGallagher said at 8:09 am on January 28th, 2012:

    Dan,

    All of Monmouth County owes you a debt of gratitude for making John Curley a star.

  3. Chris said at 9:34 am on January 28th, 2012:

    Another reason Doherty is not running is because he knows no Dem will win a Monmouth County freeholder spot in the next 3-4 years

  4. Tell that said at 1:47 pm on January 29th, 2012:

    to former freeholder Mallet, who showed up at the last meeting to pleasantly criticize the new board.. running as a D in the last Presidential wasn’t such a bad thing in the county.. if the R’s ever get done fighting and focus on someone to take on Obama in an effective way, maybe it’ll get better, but, the D’s do have a better knock- and- drag operation in the even years, than do the R’s..believe she misses the scene, and is looking for some young, popular local mayor to run with..