Eric Hinds seeks to take over the Holmdel GOP
By Art Gallagher
When I asked Holmdel Township Committeeman Eric J. Hinds if he was behind the slate of Republican County Committee candidates challenging 15 of the 20 Monmouth County Republican Organization candidates with The Holmdel Republican Committee slogan in the primary next Tuesday, June 5, he said, “I’ve been educating people about how to get more involved in their community.”
That evasive answer sounded a lot like the answer that one of the challenging candidates gave me earlier. “I want to learn how to get more involved in my community,” said Mary Vassilakos. When I asked Vassilakos how the team of candidates came together, who was the leader and how was the slogan chosen she said, “The Holmdel Repbublican Committee is the name of the facebook page.” “You named your slate of candidates after a facebook page?” I asked. “You’re making it sound like some kind of conspiracy. I don’t like your questions. You don’t have my permission to quote me.”
Hinds failed to educate his candidates about Off the Record protocol. So I’ll do it: You go off the record and get the reporter’s agreement prior answering a question.
After more dodging and weaving, Hinds finally admitted that he supports all 15 of the challengers. When asked if he would be the municipal party chairman if the challengers win a majority of the committee seats he said, “I don’t want to count my chickens before they’re hatched.”
Hinds opened up a bit when I asked him what his complaints were about how the all Republican Township governing body was operating in Holmdel. “We need better communication and transparency,” he said. “Then why are you being so evasive in your answers?” I asked. “I don’t know you that well,” he said.
He was critical of the attendance record of some of his colleagues. “Did you know we had to cancel a meeting recently because only two Township Committee people showed up?” he asked. I did not know that. He also complained that only 3 of the 5 township committee members showed up at a mid-day “retreat.”
Hinds complained that Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso and Freeholder Pat Impreveduto, both former Holmdel Township Committee members have too much influence in town. “When I move on to a new job, I don’t keep doing my old job,” he said.
Hinds said he was not resentful that he was not selected to be mayor for a third consecutive year, two years ago. “That’s not it. I know we have rotating mayor system,” he said. “I didn’t like how they did it and I didn’t like that they did not reappoint some of my people to positions in the town.”
He complained that an offer of employment to be the township’s Public Information Officer was rescinded from a friend of his.
He said he wants to build a multi-purpose recreational facility at township expense on Board of Education property and that he is frustrated that his colleagues have not gone along. Though, he did mention that the Township Committee recently authorized a professional study into the need for additional recreational facilities. “We’re falling behind other towns on recreation,” Hinds said.
Two township Republicans, who asked not to be named, said that Hinds has been a divisive presence since he was not re-upped as mayor in 2017. They said that he’s angry that his friend was not hired by the Township. One of them said he’s pushing for the multi-purpose recreational facility, which comes with a $34 million price tag, for the benefit of a for-profit soccer league run by some of his supporters. They said multiple attempts have been made to reconcile with Hinds, to no avail.
Update: Shortly after publication, Hinds, via text, said that he is pushing for a multi user turf field at the high school which has a $2.5 million price tag. He said he has no interest and has no idea what is referred to with a $34 million cost.
This is not the first time Holmdel has split itself, either. It will be interesting, when the dust settles after Tuesday’s Primary, how many upstart slates in the Republican Party have been successful. Maybe Art could post a total?? Wish I could think this is helpful to the general party health, and yes, sometimes people get stuck in “old ways,” but overall, given the total number of local governing body Republican seat losses, in the last couple of years, I cannot say all this ongoing turmoil is healthy/ productive, in the totality and longrun.
Did Mr. Hinds mention the recent TC meeting where he abruptly left just prior to an important vote? When he referenced the authorized professional study, did he emphasize that the majority of the residents do not support the type of active sports facilities that Councilman Hinds is pushing?
I have 2 words here: Mayor Fink. Remember those bad old days, lean times for Holmdel Republicans.