More shake ups in the Monmouth Democratic Party

UPDATE:

Vincent Solomeno fought off his ouster as president of the Bayshore Democratic Club, at least temporarily.   An election has been scheduled for August 8.

Solomeno said, “The rumors of my death were greatly exaggerated.”

Solomeno to be ousted as president of Bayshore Democratic Club

Vincent Solomeno

The Bayshore Democratic Club will change its leadership tonight when Vincent Solomeno of Hazlet is replaced mid-term as president.  Solomeno is not resigning, he’s being dumped.

Michael DiCicco, a former Pt. Pleasant Beach counciman and municipal chair who moved to Middletown within the last couple of years will be the new president of the club, according to Democratic insiders who asked not to be named. 

 DiCicco is a partner in the Bathgate, Wegner & Wolf law firm.

The shakeup is being lead by outgoing Middletown Democratic Chairman Joe Caliendo.

Solomeno was a supporter of Marlboro Councilman Frank LaRocca’s unsuccessful campaign for Monmouth County Chairman.  That campaign waged primary challenges against the municipal chairs of Holmdel, Hazlet, and Keansburg, as well as challenges to incumbent committee members in Middletown, all of which failed.

Solomeno is closely aligned to the Democratic candidates for county office; Kevin Lavan and Bill Shea running for Freeholder and Michael Steinhorn running for County Clerk.   Former Monmouth Democratic Chairman Vic Scudiery called for Lavan, Shea and Steinhorn to resign their candidacies last week.

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Middletown Democrats will elect a new chairman

Joe Caliendo

Joe Caliendo is stepping down as chairman of the Middletown Democratic Party after 25 years.  He will continue to serve on the County Committee and as Sergeant-At-Arms of the county organization.

Caliendo was reelected as the Middletown Democratic leader on June 5.  He was an instrumental supporter of Vin Gopal’s landslide victory as Monmouth County Democratic Chairman.  His resignation is effective upon the election of a new Chair.

The Democrat’s Executive Committee will hold a special election on July 18th. 

Don Watson

Port Monmouth resident Don Watson, President of the Democratic Social Club and Sergeant-At-Arms of the local committee has announced his candidacy.  Watson will likely be the only candidate.

Former School Board Member Lenny Inzerillo, a past candidate for Assembly, Freeholder and State Senate, told MMM that he had been approached to run for Chairman but was not likely to run.  “Why rock the boat?” Inzerillo said.

Former Township Committee Member Sean Byrnes said Watson “is a hard worker and will probably do a good job.”

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Scudiery: Democratic County Candidates Should Resign

Former Monmouth Democratic Chairman Victor Scudiery

Former Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Victor Scudiery told MMM that he thinks his party’s nominees for freeholder and county surrogate should resign their candidacies and let the new Chairman, Vin Gopal, and the Democratic County Committee select new candidates.

The freeholder candidates, former Hazlet Mayor Kevin Lavan and former State Trooper William Shea, along with surrogate nominee Michael Steinhorn, all supported Gopal’s opponent, Marlboro Council President Frank LaRocca, in last month’s Chairman’s race.  Gopal won the chairmanship with over 70% of the vote, over 80% excluding Marlboro.

“I don’t know why they did that (took a position in the Chairman’s race),” said Scudiery, “LaRocca must have promised them something.  I don’t see how the rank and file supports them now.”

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Steinhorn: “I’m waiting for Gopal to step up”

Democratic Monmouth County Clerk candidate Michael Steinhorn told MMM that he has not heard from Vin Gopal, the new Democratic County Chairman, since Tuesday night’s convention.  “I’m waiting anxiously for my running mates and I to be summoned so that Mr. Gopal can show us how to win,” said the Rumson Democrat, “I hope he doesn’t wait until two months before election day and then say he really doesn’t have enough time.”

Steinhorn, along with Democratic Freeholder candidates Bill Shea and Kevin Lavan, openly supported Gopal’s opponent, Marlboro Council President Frank LaRocca for Democratic Chairman. “I wish my running mates had staid out of the race, but after they endorsed Frank I felt like I was between LaRocca and a hard place,” Steinhorn quipped,  “I didn’t want to split the ticket.  I felt to was important that the three of us stay united for fundraising and the campaign.”

When asked if he has spoken to the members of his county slate, Gopal declined to comment.

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Party Unity

Based upon the voting results of the two Monmouth County political conventions that occurred on Tuesday evening, it would appear that the Monmouth Democratic Organization is united and the Monmouth Republican Organization is divided.

Vin Gopal’s margin of victory in the Democratic Chairman’s race was 73%-27%.  John Bennett scored a 50.24%-49.75% victory in the Republican race.

Both parties had extraordinarily high turnouts with over 600 committee members voting.  For a county party that has had no electoral success in recent years, the record turnout for the Democrats was an impressive showing. 

But all is not rosy for the Democrats.  Among Gopal’s minority opponents are his 3 county level candidates, Michael Steinhorn running for County Clerk and Freeholder candidates Bill Shea and Kevin Lavan.  Gopal, Steinhorn, Shea and Lavan were all general election candidates last year.  Gopal was an Assembly candidate in the 11th district.  Steinhorn and Shea were county level candidates, and Lavan was an Assembly candidate in the 13th district.  The divide is reportedly over Gopal’s relative (they all lost) success.  He raised more money, got more press and came closer to winning than Steinhorn, Shea and Lavan did in 2011.

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Gopal Wins

UPDATED 11:10 pm

Vin Gopal is the new Chairman of the Monmouth County Democrats.

Gopal won 73% of the Democratic County Committee votes with 434 votes to Marlboro Council President Frank LaRocca’s 169 votes.

Sources told MMM that when word that John Bennett had won the Monmouth GOP Chairmanship reached the Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands, the Democratic crowd erupted in celebration.

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20 Prominent Democrats Endorse LaRocca for Monmouth Democratic Chair

Twenty prominent Democrats, including former State Democratic Chairman, Assemblyman Joe Cryan, Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornik, Red Bank Mayor Pat Menna, and Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider have endorsed Marlboro Council President Frank LaRocca for Monmouth County Democratic Chairman.

In their endorsement letter the Democratic leaders said that LaRocca has the qualities necessary to be a successful Chairman “in abundance”

1. Unmatched history of fundraising at the local level having raised over $500,000 in three election cycles for municipal elections.
2. Commitment to ALL Monmouth County Democrats. Frank has hosted fundraisers, provided headshots and lawn signs, and offered strategic advice for all candidates up and down the ballot.
3. Proven winner, having won 8 or 9 seats in Marlboro, including 2 of 3 Republican seats during the Christie campaign.
4. Energized and empowered an over 1,200 member youth council creating a culture of community and civic responsibility in Monmouth County teens.
5. Accomplished and respected professional, recognised as being a Top 100 lawyer in New Jersey by his peers five (5) years in a row.

The endorsement letter can be downloaded here.

The Monmouth County Democrats will elect a new Chairman Tuesday evening, 6PM to 9PM, at the Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands.  The candidates are LaRocca and Long Branch businessman/publisher Vin Gopal.

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Western Monmouth Mayors Endorse Bennett for Monmouth GOP Chair

Freehold Township Mayor Anthony J. Ammiano, Colts Neck Mayor Jarrett R. Engel, Howell Mayor Robert F. Walsh, Farmingdale Mayor John P. Morgan, and Manalapan Mayor Susan Cohen, have sent the following letter to the County Committee members from their communities:

We are writing to request your support for Senator John Bennett as our next Republican County Chair on Tuesday, June 12^th at 7:00 P.M. at the Colts Neck High School.

            Senator Bennett was born and raised in Western Monmouth County and graduated from Freehold High School.  During his twenty-four years in the legislature he represented our interests and remains well aware of our concerns.

            Dedicated to the acquisition of Open Space, Senator Bennett wrote the legislation which allows counties and municipalities to dedicate a portion of their tax revenue to acquire Open Space with voter approval.  Included among his many accomplishments in our area, is the toxic waste site clean-up in the Townships of Howell and Freehold, and his effective block of the proposed incinerator in the Township of Millstone. 

            Senator Bennett is a leader: he has served our State, our County, and our municipalities well.  His leadership roles in the State Legislature, including his tenure as Senate President, provide him with the experience and skill set necessary to unite factions within our Party, raise necessary funding, and both recruit and get Republican candidates elected.  

            We have a great opportunity to get someone like Senator Bennett who is willing to serve as our County Chair and we ask you to join us in supporting him as our next Chairman.  We need a strong turn out from Western Monmouth to make this happen and urge you to show up and vote for Senator Bennett.  Thank you for your attention and support.

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Shea Loses County Committee Race

Democratic Freeholder Candidate Bill Shea, right. Photo credit Andrea Tarr

Monmouth County Democratic Freeholder candidate William Shea was defeated yesterday in his quest to become a member of the Monmouth County Democratic County Committee.

Running in Howell’s 9th district, Shea lost to Aiman El-Tochamy.

Shea’s wife, Lori, defeated El-Tochamy’s wife, Roseann, for the female committee seat in the district.

Shea is running against Freeholder Director John Curley in the November general election.

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Democratic Mayors Endorse Gopal For Chair

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