Senate Candidates on the Trail

The Democratic and Republican candidates in the August 13 special U.S. Senate primary traveled throughout New Jersey to meet voters on July 4.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker toured the Jersey Shore with former Senator Bill Bradley.  Charles Measley met up with Booker in Long Branch.

Cory Booker and Charles Measley. Bill Bradley in the background, left.

Measely said he urged Booker to kick Congressman Frank Pallone’s ass.  Booker applauded and said he would.

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Monmouth County in the American Revolution

Courtesy of John Schneider and the Historical Society of Highlands 

Battle of Monmouth

1776  The British fleet arrives off Sandy Hook on June 29. 

Sympathizers with the British cause, mainly from Monmouth County, flee to Sandy Hook through Highlands in large numbers to help the British built fortifications which were held for the rest of the Revolutionary War.

1777  The Battle of Navesink becomes the first battle in Monmouth County as 170 British troops attack Monmouth County militia post at the Esek Hartshorne house on February 13.

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Greg’s List: Things Do In Monmouth County This Holiday Weekend July 4-7, 2013 #STTS

SPONSORED BY SEASTREAK

By Greg Kelly

Thursday, July 4

• OceanFest (Long Branch) – MORE INFO

• Atlantic Highlands Firemen’s Fair – MORE INFO

• Ocean Grove 4th of July Parade – MORE INFO

• The Angeltones in Concert & Fireworks (WLB) – MORE INFO

• Bradley Beach Fireworks – MORE INFO

• Holiday Racing at Monmouth Park (Oceanport) – MORE INFO

• Independence Day Concert & Fireworks (Freehold) – MORE INFO

• Fireworks on the Beach (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO

• “I Love New York Brass” Concert (Ocean Grove) – MORE INFO

• Estate & Multi-Family Yard Sale (Eatontown) – MORE INFO

• Firecracker 5-Mile Race (Wall Twp) – MORE INFO

• “Everything” Yard Sale (Marlboro) – MORE INFO

• Fireworks Schedule in Monmouth County – MORE INFO

• New Jersey State Fair (Meadowlands) – MORE INFO

Friday, July 5

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Plumsted Comitteeman Running For Senate In Both Primaries

Are you a Republican not satisfied with Steve Lonegan or Dr. Alieta Eck as your only choices in the special primary for U.S. Senate?

Maybe you’re a Democrat who has never tweeted with Cory Booker, don’t like the big government approach that Frank Pallone and Rush Holt espouse and can’t figure out why Sheila Oliver is running.

Maybe your devastated that Joe Ruddy Rullo decided not to run as an Independent after all, so far, as of now.

Plumsted Township Committee Jack Trotta has a solution for you.  Write him in on August 13 in whichever primary you vote in.

Trotta, a Republican, is running with the support of Assemblyman Ron Dancer and Plumsted Mayor David Leutwyler, according to Tri-Town News.

Trotta’s platform?  He’s middle-class and thinks there should be a middle-class vote in the Senate.

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Zipprich Has More Campaign Cash Than Angelini and Casagrande Combined

Assembly candidate Ed Zipprich and Senator Barbara Buono and NY’s Gay Pride Parade, 6/30/13 facebook photo

Red Bank Councilman Ed Zipprich, a Democratic candidate for Assembly in the 11th legislative district, announced today that he has outraised his Republican opponents, Assemblywomen Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande, over the last two fundraising periods and that he has more cash on hand than Angelini and Casagrande combined.

RED BANK–  Today, Ed Zipprich, candidate for New Jersey Assembly (NJ-11), announced that he has outraised his opponents, Mary  Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande, over the last two fundraising  periods.  Zipprich raised a total of $21,793 during the pre and  post-primary reporting periods while Angelini and Casagrande combined to raise a total of $12,200.  Additionally, Zipprich has $42,819 on hand  compared to Angelini and Casagrande’s combined $37,873–$23,966 on hand for  Angelini and 13,907 for Casagrande.”

“I am humbled by the amount of support I’ve received across the 11th district,” said Zipprich.  “It shows our campaign is building momentum  and that voters are starting to pay attention to the differences between myself and my opponents.  Whether it’s on raising the minimum wage,  ending special tax breaks for millionaires, or finally bringing marriage equality to New Jersey, the residents of the 11th  district know I will fight for them.”

MMM verified Zipprich’s numbers at the NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission’s website.

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Trial Date Set For Asbury Park Ballot Controversy

Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Dennis R. O’Brien has set a trial date of July 16 to determine if the Asbury Park municipal election ballots disqualified by the Monmouth County Board of Elections will be counted, according to a report in AsburyParkSun.

Daniel Harris, a candidate on the United Asbury ticket sued to have 332 vote by mail ballots and 32 provisional ballots that were disqualified for faulty signatures or missing witness/messenger affidavits  counted in the final tally of the election that occurred on May 14.  If the suit is successful, it is possible that members of the new council that was sworn in yesterday could be removed from office and replaced by Harris and/or other members of his ticket.  Two members of the United Asbury ticket, James Keady and Duanne Small, are within 178 votes of unseating Mayor Myra Campbell and Deputy Mayor Susan Henderson.  A pick up of 192 votes would also put Harris on the council and give United Asbury majority control of the council.

O’Brien ordered that the parties exchange the information that the need from each other by the end of the day today and raised the possibility that all 300-odd people who cast disallowed ballots could be called to testify.

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Gramiconni’s Deployment Cancelled

Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni

Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramicconi’s deployment to Afghanistan as a U.S. Naval Reserve Officer has been cancelled.

A JAG Lt. Commander, Gramicconi received orders in March to report for active duty last March. He was ordered to report for a 9 month tour of duty on August 9.

Those orders have been rescinded, according to a statement issued by the Prosecutor’s Office.

“The outpouring of support from the people in my Office and people all across the state meant so much to me and my family during the lead-up to this deployment.  I am blessed to work with all these outstanding people and touched by the kindnesses extended by everyone – thank you,” Gramiccioni said in the statement

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FEMA Makes A Deal With Russian Emergency Ministry

By Art Gallagher

Photo courtesy of The Ministry of Russian Federation for Civil Defense, Emergencies and Consequences of Natural Disasters

During the immediate aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, it gave me and my neighbors great comfort when we were greeted by State Police Officers from Mississippi and Illinois when were coming back to Highlands.  It felt good to know that fellow Americans from far away were here for us in our time of need;  that trained police and other first responders were here to protect our lives and property along side our local police and first responders.

I’m not sure I would have felt as comforted if I had to pass through a checkpoint manned by armed Russian soldiers or police to get to my home.

That could happen in future disasters under an agreement that FEMA signed with the Russian Emergency Ministry last week, according to a press release by EMERCOM of Russian.

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New Asbury Park Government Off To Rocky Start

John Lofreddo, left, Myra Campbell, center and Susan Henderson.
AsburyParkSun.com photo

The hope of a new beginning was replaced with anger today in Asbury Park when the new city council was sworn in.

John Moor, the top vote getter in the May 14 non-partisan election, was expected to be appointed mayor by his colleagues, as is the tradition.  He had the 3 votes he needed on the 5 person council by virtue of his own election and that of two of his running mates, Amy Quinn and Myra Campbell who ran on the One Asbury ticket in the non-partisan election.

Then sometime over the weekend, Campbell split with her running mates and made a deal with returning council members John Lofreddo and Susan Henderson, who ran for reelection on the Forward Asbury ticket, to get the mayoral title for herself.

The mayor’s office in Asbury Park is largely ceremonial in the city’s form of government.  The appointed City Manager, a full time employee appointed by the council, runs the day to day operations of the city. Asbury Park elects their entire council once every four years.

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Both GOP Candidates Favor Marriage Equality

The two candidates competing for the Republican nomination to complete the late U. S. Senator Frank Lautenberg’s term favor same sex marriage being legal.

Reacting to the U. S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning the Defense of Marriage Act, former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan said,

“Today’s decision is the unfortunate result of an activist, liberal court that has little respect for the Constitution and our nation’s founding principles. While I believe government should not be in the business of marriage, it is not the Supreme Court’s responsibility to make that decision. Laws should be made by legislatures, not by unelected judges. To do so is a usurpation of our democratic tradition at the heart of this country’s founding.”

I wonder if Lonegan would have called the decision “unfortunate” if the Court ruled that the government should not be in the business of marriage.

UPDATE  A few readers have mentioned that Lonegan’s statement does not make it clear that he favors marriage equality.  Here it is: While I believe government should not be in the business of marriage ….

If government doesn’t regulate marriage and who can get married, than same sex couples can be married.

Dr. Alieta Eck said,

“While I personally believe that traditional marriage is an important institution to defend, the Supreme Court was correct in rejecting a federal attempt to define it. Marriage is a religious institution. There was a time when the general consensus agreed with organized religion, but those times have passed. We must never abandon the Constitution in guarding equal protection and free association under the law.”

The four candidates competing for the Democratic Senate nomination, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Congressman Frank Pallone, Congressman Rush Holt and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver also support marriage equality.

The Democratic and Republican nominations for Senate will be decided in special primaries to be held on August 13.  The new senator will be elected in a special election to be held on October 16.

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