Neptune City Council Race Tied

Neptune City Councilman Richard Pryor

Neptune City Councilman Richard Pryor, a Republican, is tied with Democratic challenger Michael Skudera now that the provisional ballots have been counted.

In the post-Election Day machine count, Pryor trailed Skudera by one vote.

Barring a change in the tally due to a recount, which neither side has announced, there will be a run-off election between Pryor and Skudera, on a date to be determined, most likely in mid-December.

Republicans are said to be reviewing the Vote-By-Mail applications from the City prior to deciding whether to file for a recount. Operatives of the notorious Asbury Park “A Team” are rumored to have managed the Vote-By-Mail operation for the Democrats.

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Red Bank Republicans Hold On To Victory after Provisional Ballots Counted

With the provisional ballots counted this morning by the Board of Elections in Freehold, Republican Council Candidate Michael Whelan has held on to his victory over incumbent Democratic Councilman Michael DuPont.

Whelan was leading DuPont by 4 votes on the voting machine ballots, 963-959. DuPont picked up 5 votes from provisional ballots.  Whelan picked up 4 votes.

Whelan’s running mate, Mark Taylor was the lead vote getter on the machine count with 1,029 votes.  Taylor picked up 4 votes from provisional ballots.

DuPonts running mate, School Board Member Michael Ballard had 925 machine ballot votes.  Ballard picked up 9 votes from provisional ballots.

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2 stabbed at N.J. home of Wu-Tang Clan founder RZA

MILLSTONE — Authorities are investigating a double stabbing that occurred early Saturday morning at the Millstone home of rapper RZA. Police are saying little about the early-morning incident and it could not immediately be determined whether RZA, whose real name is Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, was home at the time. New Jersey State Police responded to a… Read the rest of this entry »

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2015 elections likely saw lowest voter turnout in N.J. history

TRENTON — This past Tuesday’s elections in New Jersey are likely to make history, according to a prominent pollster — but not in a way that would make Garden State politicians proud. Only 20.8 percent of registered voters in the state turned up to the polls on Election Day, according to a preliminary analysis by Patrick… Read the rest of this entry »

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Tax Man Shuts Down Merla’s Sub Shop

John Merla

The New Jersey Division of Taxation has closed Jersey Shore Subs, the Keyport eatery owned and operated by the borough’s former mayor John Merla, according to a report on KeyportAnchorNews.

On Monday, November 2, Merla announced his troubles via facebook:

The Past 14 Days Have Without a Doubt, Been The Toughest Time For Me Personally, When The SAY The Devil Works 24-7 Thats No Bull !!! Yes It Is True My Store Has Been Temporarly Closed Down For The Past Week, The Little Orange Sticker Doesn’t Tell All Only What The Haters Want To Read…I Personally Can’t Believe The Amount Of Friends, Great Customers And Family That Have Reached Out To Me Or A Family Member To Try To Help, This Setback, Just Made Me Much Much Stronger Then Ever, We Have OptionsAnd We Are Weighing Our Options Very Carefully… Many Of You Want The Store Back OPEN, And That Is One Of Are Options…I Just Can’t Tell You How HARD I’ve Worked This Past 5 Years To Make A Little Business Work For Our Community, I Really Wasn’t Going To Write This But Because Of The Support For The Business And My Family I Had Too…. I’m Sure Those That Have Been Supportive Will Appreciate It, And Those Who Like The Drama, And Want To Continue To Hate,Love It Too…. All I Can Say Is We’re Looking At Every Option Possible….The Devil Might Work 24-7, But I Work Harder…… Anyone That Knows What I’ve Done And My Business Has Contributed, Knows Where My Heart Lies…….Thank You For Your SUPPORT!!!!!!!

Merla told MMM publisher Art Gallagher that a former employee complained to the State that his wages were paid in cash.

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Asbury Park man shot by cop charged with attempted murder

ASBURY PARK — A 20-year-old city resident faces attempted murder charges after authorities say he shot at a police officer during a foot pursuit Wednesday night. Dante Allen, who was struck during the gun battle, remains in stable condition at a local hospital, said acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni. He was charged with attempted murder,… Read the rest of this entry »

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Teachers Union — and Its Money — Helped Shape Outcome of Assembly Races

Gov. Chris Christie may claim in places like New Hampshire and Iowa that he has tamed New Jersey’s public employee unions, but you wouldn’t have known it from the smile on the face of one union’s leader. “We had a terrific week,” said Wendell Steinhauer, president of the New Jersey Education Association, as his union gathered… Read the rest of this entry »

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Under new bill, a ‘smart gun’ in every N.J. gun shop

TRENTON — More than a dozen years after passing a “smart gun” law that is now blamed for stopping them from being sold across the country, state Senate Democrats on Thursday said they want to revamp the law and force gun dealers to carry the high-tech weapons. Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) said she is introducing a… Read the rest of this entry »

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Christie knocked out of 4th GOP primetime debate

SOMERSWORTH, N.H. — Gov. Chris Christie was edged out of the upcoming GOP debate’s main stage event scheduled for Tuesday, delivering a major blow to the struggling campaign that had just begun showing signs of gaining momentum. The line was announced Thursday night on Fox Business just as Christie campaigned in New Hampshire, where the latest… Read the rest of this entry »

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Gopal vs Beck in 2017?

From PolitickerNJ:

Vin Gopal

Long hailed as one of the most talented up and comers in New Jersey politics, the Monmouth County Democratic Chairman from Long Branch appears poised to run against state Senator Jen Beck (D-11) in 2017. Beck will be a very tough out, but Gopal is a unique politician now emboldened by the loses last night of Beck’s running mates Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande.

That would be a fun race to cover!

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