Gary Rich Skips Monmouth County GOP Screening

UPDATE: Gary Rich announced that he is no longer a candidate for U.S. Senate

Former Freeholder Gary Rich

Former Monmouth County Freeholder did not interview with the Monmouth County Republican Screening Committee as scheduled this weekend. His name will not appear on the ballot for the nomination for U.S. Senate at the Monmouth GOP nominating convention on Saturday, February 8, according to Chairman Shaun Golden.

Golden told MMM that Rich initially confirmed his attendance at the Saturday morning interview and that an email from his campaign on Friday cancelled his appearance.

Rich has not returned a voice mail or text to his personal cell phone asking if he is still a candidate for the nomination for Senate. The phone number on his campaign facebook page is not a working number.

The former freeholder came in a distant third place at the Union County GOP convention last week with only 11 votes. Rik Mehta won the Union County Republican endorsement with 138 votes. Hirsh Singh came in second with 82 votes, according the NewJerseyGlobe.

Mehta won Party endorsements in Somerset County and Hunterdon County on Monday evening.

Senate candidates Tricia Flanagan and Stuart Meissner screened but were not approved by the committee. Their names will not appear on the convention ballot, Golden said.

The screening committee was comprised of Golden, Monmouth GOP Co-Chair Christine Giordano Hanlon, Vice Chairs John Cantolupo and Rob Nicastro, Freeholder Director Tom Arnone, and well as State Committeewoman Mary Pat Angelini.

The Monmouth County Republican Committee will convene on Saturday, February 8, 9 a.m. at iPlayAmerica in Freehold Township to endorse candidates for President, U.S. Senate, Congress in Districts 4 and 6, and Freeholder.

Mehta, Singh and Natalie Rivera will compete for the U.S. Senate endorsement. Congressman Chris Smith is unopposed for the endorsement in CD-4. Sammy Gindi and Christian Onuoha will compete for the endorsement in CD-6. Freeholder Lillian Burry and Ross Licitra are unopposed for the freeholder endorsements.

President Donald J. Trump is unopposed for the endorsement for President of the United States.

The candidates who are endorsed at the convention will have the party line on the ballot for the primary on June 2.