Eileen Kean pulls out of State Committeewoman race. Endorses Costigan for Committeeman
Eileen Kean has withdrawn as a candidate for the New Jersey Republican State Committee from Monmouth County, leaving incumbent Committeewoman Christine Hanlon unopposed for the party’s nomination on March 23 in Colts Neck.
In a statement emailed to members of the Monmouth County Republican Committee, Kean called for party unity and then endorsed Howell GOP Chairman John Costigan for the male slot on the committee. Costigan and Middletown GOP Chairman Peter Carton are competing to replace Monmouth GOP Chairman John Bennett on the Republican State Committee.
After much deliberation, I have made the decision to withdraw my name as a candidate for State Committee and support our incumbent State Committeewoman Christine Hanlon for re-election. I believe this is in the best interest of the Monmouth County Republican Party and will continue the unification efforts of Chairman Bennett. I welcome the opportunity to serve and know that there will be future opportunities for me to contribute to the Monmouth County GOP.
I believe our Party is heading in the right direction under the leadership of John Bennett. Personal agendas need to be put aside and unifying the party is paramount. Thank you for your consideration and please join with me in supporting Christine Hanlon for re-election as Monmouth County’s State Committeewoman and John Costigan as Monmouth County’s State Committeeman.
EILEEN KEAN
More from my site
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Carton Withdraws From State Committee Race
Strange Bedfellows
Judge Oxley?
“An Amazing Moment” 
Who is Christine Hanlon? The Monmouth County GOP Chair’s Race, Part 4
Costigan exits on a high note- Monmouth GOP Unity on display in Tampa
Hanlon Scores More Endorsements For Monmouth GOP Chair
Golden Announces His Leadership Team
“Personal agendas need to be put aside and unifying the party is paramount” — EILEEN KEAN
So, does anyone know, what WAS Eileen’s “personal agenda”?
and a fair compromise: what do we need another contest for this year? We have a full slate of incumbents to re-elect, and work to do in some of our towns. Agree with Eileen, let’s move on- Pete, your turn.
can’t/ won’t explain it for you, you won’t believe it or agree, anyhow..onward.
“Doctor” Costigan? Really? He’s divider, not a uniter.
Let’s compare his record to Peter Carton’s:
Carton’s record as Middletown Chair is extraordinary. Even after bid rig, he managed to keep control. Middletown Republicans run hard every year and they are never lacking for campaign cash. Middletown Democrats are funded by the union thugs you reference and they are a nasty dirty bunch. Peter’s team runs hard against them every year, even when it is obvious that the competition is weak.
Costigan, as hard a worker as the old guy is, has a record as a divider, not a uniter. Even his golden boy Joe DiBella came onto this blog and said he should not be a State Committee person.
Costigan holds a grudge. He lost control of his town to Bobby Walsh’s Independents and wouldn’t accept Walsh’s olive branch of unity, even when DiBella begged him too.
Costigan couldn’t get DiBella the Freeholder nomination in 2006, being outsmarted by Giannell and Popkin who saddled us with Anna Little and Andrew Lucas…the biggest non-bid rig embarassments in Monmouth GOP history.
Costigan challenged Oxley in 2010 because he didn’t like how Oxley nominated Chris Christie in 2009.
Costigan supported Steve Lonegan over Christie in 2009, even after the Monmouth GOP awarded Christie the line. Now you want to send Costigan to Trenton to join Christie’s team?
Peter Carton is not perfect, but he is a team player and a class act. He keeps his eye on the ball…winning… and doesn’t dwell on petty bs. He also throws a great party every New Year.
I will not mention my sources, but one was a very good source that said this was a set up by Costigan to try and get Carton to drop out.
If this is indeed true and I have it on good advice this is true, this was not the move for Costigan to play. It smells of sleazy tactics for if John can not stand on his own two feet, then shame on him.
It is classy for Kean to drop and am thankful that she did. Maybe she realized too late what was up, maybe she knew from the beginning. But, that she dropped out so fast tells me that something was not kosher. And I do believe Kean to be an honest woman.
So, one thumb up for Kean. FIVE thumbs down for Costigan. I have dealt with him over the years and each time I am smelling more and more of a fishy smell.
Sorry John, love ya as a person but the way you play games smacks of the kind of politics we do NOT need.
in the post since John Bennett said he would step down at the end of the term! Carton got his letter and signatures in less than two days before the deadline! You people really have to stop creating such wrong and false rumors for your own agendas, it will bring the party down!
So what that Costigan has wanted the title since Bennett said he was giving it up?
What “wrong and false rumors” are you taking about? That Costigan put Kean up to running? Everyone has heard that rumour. @PersonalAgenda is not making news here.
Bennett could have written the by-laws to say the first one of his supporters who says he wants a position gets it. Instead, the chairman did the right thing and created a process. Carton complied with the process.
This is not about who deserves it or whose feelings will be hurt if they don’t get it. It’s not about a “title” to make someone feel important. It’s about who will do the best job…not who will work the hardest but who will produce the best results.
The choice couldn’t be more obvious.
These are both grown men. Let’s not make childish choices based on avoiding hurt feelings.
So what if Carton decided at the last minute. He followed procedures and didn’t whine like the Tea Party asking that the process be waived for them. Anyone could have filed for the position, even “unnamed Tea Party candidates.”
So, hat’s off to Carton for challenging.
John Costigan was not owed any deferential treatment. After all, isn’t that the antitheses of conservatism, the feeling that you are owed something? No John, you have to earn it at the ballot box.
You know, there were several Cardinals who wanted to be Pope for several years. Guess what, a dark horse was elected.
Bringing the party down? Maybe this game that Costigan tried to play via Kean is that which is bringing the party down.
Carton is the better choice. But, if Costigan is elected, I will support him just like I am sure Carton will and like Christine Hanlon supported Bennett.
…with an 11th hour candidate, much to Bennett’s glee, that will split off the vote for Carton and make Costigan the winner.
When will these BTP people, a well-intentioned lot at heart, realize how they are being used and manipulated by the very heart of the faction they have been trying to remediate?
Ahhhhh, it’s too late for them to put in a candidate. Read up on the rules
Since Bennett took the helm as County Chairman, strides have been made within the Monmouth GOP. Despite the vendetta mentality of the John Costigan’s and CO. Chairman Bennett has been able to hold things together.
John Costigan is making this play because word in Howell and the County is he no longer has the support of the municipal committee, isn’t in good standing with the new Mayor and other elected officials, wore out his welcome in the Western Monmouth Alliance and his big ego needs to find a home.
Bennett may feel he owes Costigan for his support against Hanlon, but this will be something the Chairman regrets.
Some say this position is mostly a ceremonial position, it still represents the entire Republican Party of Monmouth County.
Pete Carton has the experience and will bring a more favorable light within the State GOP along with Christine Hanlon. Without a doubt Pete is the better choice.
Costigan stinks! We here in Red Bank are proudly supporting Peter Carton. If Costigan steals this election, we won’t support him in June. He is the worst. We need a real leader like Chairman Peter Carton
speak for everyone in Red Bank! I have worked in several towns,and on many events and projects with Mr.Costigan, and will be casting my vote for him on the 23rd. And, really, how childish to call names like a kid in the schoolyard. It is very disheartening, every time there is a contest in this party, to see it devolve,in mere seconds, into low class, ignorant personal attacks, rather than your positive endorsements of your candidate. Grow up, for heaven’s sake!
Really, now.
I don’t know if “Costigan stinks”, but I’ve been following this debate here, and on the other thread here…
http://www.moremonmouthmusings.net/2013/03/12/state-committee-seats-to-be-contested-at-monmouth-gop-convention/#comments
…and I found the following comment on that page to be particularly rude, condescending, and low class; “It’s frankly that very self-important and humorless, snotty attitude that bores many,around the county.”
How dare YOU trash people on a whim and degrade them without cause??? Your disrespect for others is apalling. Others were making excellent points, and YOU attacked them in dehumanizing fashion. Such arrogance! Such venom! Such a lack of class.
I will second the comment “It’s frankly that very self-important and humorless, snotty attitude that bores many,around the county.”
I have experienced it.
I do not support Costigan for obvious reasons. I don’t think he stinks.
I have also experienced people being self-important and humorless, with a snotty attitude that bores me, because I don’t support Costigan.
all those who even really have a vote. Everyone else ought to shut up,at this point. Too negative, nasty,and personal, for no reason other than their own self-aggrandizement and self-affirmation. Sad,for the party of inclusion,and supposedly,more principle.
@Vote
I don’t need your permission to vote how I want.
@Vote
Telling people to “shut up” is very negative, nasty, and personal. Do you do that for no reason other than your own self-aggrandizement and self-affirmation?
I didn’t know that people are not allowed to hear other’s opinions. You must be from the vaunted BSTP with their my way or the highway attitude.
After all, isn’t that what happened when the MSM failed to talk about Obama’s problems? People trying to muzzle opinions tells me “something is fishy and where there is smoke, there is fire.”
People deserve to know
Self Affirmation & Self Aggrandizement? No, we just don’t want a mistake made when there is clearly a better choice. How is it personal when I am not running for the spot?
@ Red Bank Proud, not only do you not need @vote’s permission to vote how you want, but you also don’t need @vote’s blessing to speak your mind nor do any of us need to here @vote telling us to shut up.
The Bayshore Tea Party obsession continues in this thread as well. Boy oh boy that group is really irrelevant.
Good Lord , one would think you just lost the Presidency if the United States. Be honest, what is the big deal with a largely honorary post that entails a few meetings a year, when most things are already decided beforethe county reps get there? This seems more like another over -the -top temper tantrum when the kabal doesn’t get it’s way, than a deep concern for the so-called caliber of the person we may send there. If you can’t character-assassinate your opponent, the take on a whole group to lash out at. You will never make middle-age, kids, with this much venom in your souls. Ought to take a chill pill and move on, and go raise some money, help with the voter registration and phone call efforts,or something, since we all have Democrats to beat.
Babyish name -calling and over -reaction to another’s comment different from yours, is quite something else. The fact that you well- educated and obviously very smart people can’t seem to tell the difference,is the real crux of the problem the party seems to keep having. Too bad for all of us.