Former State Senator Brian T. Kennedy passed away yesterday after a short illness. He was 77 years old.
A West Point graduate, Kennedy practiced law for 45 years and served New Jersey in both the State Assembly and Senate. He served in the Assembly from 1971-1973 and from 1975 -1977 and in the Senate from 1977-1983 before being defeated by Long Branch Councilman Frank Pallone.
Kennedy ran for Congress against the late Representative James J. Howard in 1984 and 1986. He was a primary candidate for U.S. Senate in 1994, losing the GOP nomination to Assembly Speaker Chuck Haytian.
Kennedy’s last run for office was in 2000 against Congressman Pallone. He briefly considered entering the 2008 race for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination after Anne Eastabrook withdrew for health reasons.
The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold hearings on the nominations of Bruce Harris and Phillip Kwon for seats on the State Supreme Court this morning.
The hearings can be followed live on the Legislature’s website.
Kyrillos Secures Yet Another Unanimous County Endorsement
Ocean County – March 20… Today, the Ocean County Republican Organization endorsed Senator Joe Kyrillos for United States Senate. This is Senator Kyrillos’ sixth unanimous county organization endorsement.
Ocean County Republican Organization Chairman George Gilmore said, “Joe Kyrillos is the leader that will make Ocean County proud in the United States Senate. Ocean County families are struggling with high taxes and out-of-control gas prices. Joe has a proven record of cutting taxes and fighting to reduce spending and that is exactly what we need to get our economy moving again. I am proud to support Joe Kyrillos for U.S. Senate.”
Senator Joe Kyrillos said, “I am honored and humbled to have the support of Chairman Gilmore and the Ocean County Republican Organization endorsement. New Jersey families and small businesses are struggling with higher taxes and job killing regulations from Washington. The Obama/Menendez plan to tax our way to a stronger economy is failing and is just more of the same. We need to cut taxes so families can keep more of what they earn and small businesses can invest and create jobs. In Washington, I will put families and small businesses first and I look forward to making the people of Ocean County and all of New Jersey proud.”
Kyrillos has also been endorsed by Governor Chris Christie and the Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Monmouth County Republican Organizations.
Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos, Jr., 51, is married to Susan Doctorian Kyrillos and they live in Middletown with their children Max and Georgia. He began serving New Jersey’s 13th Legislative District in 1988 when he was elected to the General Assembly. After spending two terms in the Assembly he was elected to the Senate where he has served since 1993. In addition to his official duties, the Senator is employed as Senior Managing Director of Colliers International, the commercial real estate services firm with offices in New York and Parsippany. He is also an advisor to the Newport Capital Group in Red Bank, NJ.
The Monmouth County Democrats are holding their nominating convention on Thursday, March 22 at the Bayshore Senior Center, 6:30 PM.
Michael Steinhorn of Rumson is the only candidate who has filed to run for County Clerk. He is expected to be nominated to run against Republican incumbent M.Claire French. Steinhorn was the nominee for County Surrogate last year.
Former State Trooper Bill Shea, a candidate last year, and former Hazlet Mayor Kevin Lavan, a candidate for Assembly last year from the 13th district , will be freeholder candidates.
There are two freeholder seats up this year; a full term that is being defended by incumbent Republican Freeholder Director John Curley and an unexpired term that will be defended by Freeholder Serena DiMaso. DiMaso was elected by the Monmouth Republican Committee to fill the vacancy created by Rob Clifton’s election to the State Assembly.
The Democrats have yet to determine which seats Shea and Lavan will challenge.
Former Freeholder Amy Mallet has not ruled out re-seeking the office that she lost last November. Asked repeatedly by MMM if she was going to make an run for freeholder either at the convention or in the primary, Mallet said, “no, not at this time,” and “I am not running as of now.” Asked to give a definitive answer, she declined.
Two candidates have thrown their hats into the ring for the nomination to take on Congressman Chris Smith in the 4th congressional district. Former Monmouth County Surrogate Patricia Bennett, now an elder law attorney in Red Bank and Spring Lake businessman Brian Froelich will compete for the Democratic endorsement on Thrusday night.
Froelich has a website and says he’s filed with the FEC to be a candidate. He would not rule out a primary challenge should he lose to Bennett on Thursday, saying, “I intend to win at the convention and have not thought beyond that.”
Senator Menendez: In this economic crisis, New Jersey is one of the states that has suffered the least because of the stewardship of Jon Corzine. He has made difficult, but necessary measures which is why he has been attacked unfairly.
Governor Corzine has invested 4 billion dollars for the construction of 52 new schools.
And now New Jersey has the best high school graduation percentage in the country.
Governor Corzine: Senator, come here!
Senator Menendez: Be right there! Let’s support our governor. Jon Corzine is our friend. We should all vote for him.
Kyrillos has a New Jersey style welcome for the Vice President
I wonder how much of Corzine’s missing $1.2 billion will end up in Menendez’s coffers.
“It’s disturbing that Joe Biden gets his economic advice from non-other than Jon Corzine, the same man that nearly bankrupted New Jersey and has since bankrupted MF Global,” said Senator Joe Kyrillos. “Corzine is also the same man that appointed Bob Menendez to the Senate. No wonder our economy is in so much trouble.”
Since Bob Menendez was appointed by Jon Corzine to fill his seat in the Senate, the national debt has jumped from $8.1 trillion to $15.3 trillion, the annual deficit has grown from $250 billion to over $1 trillion and unemployment has risen from 4.7% to 8.3%.
“The Corzine-Biden-Menendez economic team promises nothing but more of the same – more spending, more debt, more job-killing regulations. With a record like that why would anyone listen to what they say?” added Kyrillos.
Anna Little announced her candidacy for Congress from the 6th district this morning in an email blast that also sought petition signatures, campaign volunteers and donations.
Little claimed that support from unnamed “GOP leaders” was instrumental in her decision to abandon her U.S. Senate primary campaign against Joe Kyrillos in favor of a congressional campaign:
During the past week, GOP leaders have offered us their support to run in Congressional District 6. You earned this opportunity by winning the GOP Primary, off the line, in 2010. By offering us their support this year, the GOP is respecting the wishes of grass roots New Jerseyans. This is a tremendous opportunity to continue what you started in 2010.
After many meetings, planning, and discussions with grass roots patriots, we have concluded that continuing what we started in 2010, to defeat Frank Pallone, will best serve the interests of the people of the State of NJ and the grass roots conservative movement statewide.
Little lost the Monmouth County Republican endorsement for congress from the sixth district to political newcomer, Ernesto Cullari on Friday morning. The Middlesex County GOP convenes on March 24th to award their endorsement.
