Republicans Split In Atlantic Highlands
Atlantic Highlands Mayor Fred Rast. file photo
A simmering feud within the Atlantic Highlands GOP boiled over into the public eye yesterday afternoon during the Borough’s reorganization meeting as three of the five Republican elected officials split with two of their newly reelected colleagues to elect a Democrat up for reelection this year as Council President.
Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno who was on hand to swear in veteran Councilmen Jack Archibald and Peter Doyle to their new terms was not pleased by the drama. “You’re killing me,” Guadagno said to Mayor Fred Rast, a Republican who supported the unorthodox move, according to a prominent county Republican who was present.
Republican Councilman Lou Fligor nominated Democrat Roy Dellosso to be Council President. Jacob “Jake” Hoffman, also a Republican, joined Fligor, Dellossa, and Democrat Robert Sutton in electing Dellosso to the largely ceremonial post. Archibald and Doyle voted no.
While the ceremony of reorganization and the Lt.Governor’s presence shed light on the GOP rift, it really nothing new. Archibald and Doyle frequently vote together as a functional minority on the council, with Democrats Dellosso and Sutton often siding with Rast, Fligor and Hoffman on policy decisions affecting the Borough.
Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal has not yet issued a press release touting Dellosso’s election to the council presidency as a victory.
In the background of the GOP rift in Atlantic Highlands is the jockeying to replace Rast and the Republican nominee for mayor. Completing his second term this year, Rast has announced that he is keeping is first term promise to term limit himself out of office. He has said he will not seek a third term this November. All four Republican councilmen have expressed interest in running for mayor.
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Archibald Wins GOP Nomination for Mayor in Atlantic Highlands- Atlantic Highlands Councilman Jack Archibald Will Not Seek Reelection
Fligor Not Ruling Out Running For Mayor Of Atlantic Highlands
Atlantic Highlands Mayor Fred Rast Encourages Republicans and Independent Voters To Vote For Lou Fligor on June 2- Archibald Makes His Case To Atlantic Highlands Voters
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this is what i’ve been saying now for years. what is wrong with GOP members? they had to vote in a democrat over fellow republicans? this happens on all levels of government, but only republicans dropping their pants for dems not the other way around. case i point declan can be buddy buddy with the ultra dem jon hornik and do cell tower deals and try and get a turn coat republican a job with the town, having declan make calls on the dems behalf. and you wonder why it’s so hard to win an election in marlboro. between the money wheeled in by the dems in middlesex bergen, etc, counties for the campaigns for the dems, and then add the back stabbing by the republican party, it’s a tough road to tow. the poor chair shieff golden has to raise all this money and support these clowns and what does he get for his trouble, the same person declan is helping is wheeling in the money along with the decotis law group for the vin gopels of the world. i hope someone will step up and primary this clown republicans before real republicans start to loose hope and throw their hands in the air and say the hell with it. so if anyone is willing to do the right thing and primary our assemblyman, you have my support and i hope the high lands gets rid of their turn coat republicans as well.
[…] By Art Gallagher | MoreMonmouthMusings […]
Trouble, how many times do I have to tell you: The Republicans in Marlboro did themselves in. They had Scannapieco who was convicted for corruption; they had Council President Tom Broderick who was convicted in Operation Bid Rig, while employed as a county traffic engineer. Besides, Broderick was a retired NYC cop with no experience in traffic engineering. Sounds like shades of CC putting his friend in– Wildstein– without a traffic engineering background.
You Republicans shot your feet off. Even the Republican Club disbanded due to poor leadership with Mr. Dean, and lack of support.
Look in the mirror and blame yourselves!!!!
Gee, Christie is always beating his chest how he can reach over to the other side of the aisle. Why is Guadagno so critical of that?
She should be watching over her shoulder right now. Doesn’t she have Zimmergate, Pensiongate, and Hunterdon County prosecutor gate looming over her like the sword of Domoceles????
Ya know, you keep harping on these “gates” like there was something there. All these years, nothing has ever come to the surface.
Turn over a new leaf will ya?
As to these Republicans who stabbed Republicans in the back, they should be made to walk the plank.
Lets see: you didn’t address the bi-partisanship issue. Doesn’t Christie want “bipartisanship,” or is it more hot air and hypocrisy from this administration???
Guadagno, well, the aw-shucks Idahoan, really has herself up in a big pile of dog doo doo–doesn’t she. Ask Art, she refuses to talk about Pension gate. You remember that one don’t you?? The only problem with that is CC refuses to have his personally picked AG investigate the matter. That’s the problem you run into when your AG is not elected. He also refuses to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the matter; however, poor taxpaying, hard working people have to pay the six-figure salaries associated with all of their fraud and deception. Heck, look what CC did for Wildstein at the Port Authority. He permitted an unqualified high school friend to get a job without any knowledge in traffic–yet he conducts a “traffic study?” Give me a break. Stop defending these immoral, unethical jerks. Stop drinking their kool aide and DEMAND change. That’s what the Bayshore Tea Party wanted, and you vilifiy those people. Its time for change–bring out the brooms!!!
I don’t remember ever vilifying the Tea Party.
That aside, there is nothing there as far as the so called pension gate. If there was, someone would have been charged. Actually, there is less there with pension gate than bridge gate.
Say, why don’t you go crank on the Republicans that rewarded a Democrat. You got more to grip about there than all of the other stuff.
Geeeez Louizzzze
Did a little research on this matter. I think I know why no one was charged in this matter. Please read the below hyperlink.
Maybe Art with his powerful connections could ask the Lt. Governor some insight into this matter.
If I recall, Art did ask her, but she refused. So much for transparency I guess. But please read this. I found this very interesting.
http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/05/14/11690662-gov-christies-pension-issue-nj-probe-looks-at-running-mate-double-dipping?lite
Hey Kim, you were standing by the governors side, now your complaining?? What the hell is going on with you? Got Zimmer on your mind?
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2013/09/18/nj_gov_chris_christie_bipartisanship_is_the_key_to_success_in_this_state.html
Maybe its me but I don’t think the D and R labels mean as much in municipal government as they might mean elsewhere…To me in local government its much more about voting for the best people to serve in the positions and sometimes they are an R and sometimes they are a D. They might fight over whether to build a new park or not but 95% of what they deal with is is in my opinion pretty much non partisan.
I know of people that serve under a label (D or R) since that was the avenue open to running for office at the time and that avenue sometimes even requires a party registration change.
Bob English, riding the fence.
Elections are about ideas and ideology. And when you support someone for a leadership position in another party, that’s being a traitor to your party.
Yeah, it’s just you Mr. English.
Bob English, understand your point of both in by best person to do the job. All affiliations should go away and maybe our government will work better
Bob English, understand your point of having the best person to do the job regardless of political affiliation. All politicsl affiliations should go away and maybe our government will work better.
Sometimes we have to check our ideas, ideology and ego at the front door. When two parties come together to govern, they MUST DO what’s best for its residents. Even if it means compromise. Isn’t that “Do as I say, not as I do” governor Christie say that all the time?
Some people simply forget or ignore that philosophy.
It’s a shame there is always someone with an agenda.
@typical…there are towns with bipartisan forms of government that do just fine. If one only voted straight R or straight D you would be assuming that one parties candidates were always the best choices which is clearly never the case especially in local elections.
@ Bob – they are called “non partisan” towns, people do not run with labels. This is not such a situation.
Geeeeze, get is straight will you please?
DEMS are much better at promoting their own, sticking together, and hoodwinking Republicans into thinking they need to “reach across the aisle,” and do things “for the good of the order.” This nearly always happens when they’ve had their clocks cleaned/ lost a majority: no matter what level, it’s nearly always a mistake, to fall for their phony “bi- partisan” nonsense- there’s always a catch, and advantage for them. It’d be a better world if the GOP had more self- confidence in ourselves and our principles: like the RINOs in Congress, to capitulate and compromise nearly always divides/weakens the Rep’s and strengthens them.
@ Unfortunately, “unfortunately” nails it.