Bennett’s Rage: The Monmouth GOP Chair’s Race, Part 3

By Art Gallagher

Part 3 of this series was going to be about Christine Hanlon, but that will have to wait.

John Bennett called in a rage today over the two pieces about him.  He was screaming.  All the awful things people say about me are true.  At least he has the balls to say it directly to me.

He said he’s suing me and having me charged with extortion.  Extortion because Christine Hanlon and Ernesto Cullari advertised here.  He and Anna Little did not.  That’s why I was hard on Anna Little and that’s why I’m printing “lies and untruths” about him.

I’m not really a Republican because I talked to Bob Ingle.  I wish I had my wits about me to say he’s not really a Republican because he favors a woman’s right to kill babies, but I didn’t think of it until much later after someone pointed out to me how unprincipled Anna Little’s endorsement of Bennett was, given her pro-life commitment and Christine Hanlon’s pro-life commitment.  Not that a county chair has any power over Roe v Wade. 

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Bennett’s Baggage: The Monmouth GOP Chair’s Race, Part 2

Ultimately the job of a county chairman is to win elections.

Unfortunately, one of the candidates for Monmouth County GOP Chair is blinded to the fact that that his record will become a major issue in the next two general elections, should his revisionist history campaign successfully result in his chairmanship.

If John Bennett and his supporters think The Asbury Park Press and the new Monmouth County Democratic Chairman, whoever that ends up being, are not rooting for Bennett to be the next Monmouth GOP Chair, they truly have their heads in the sand.

Bennett has been promoting his early legislative career and electoral successes as a reason to elect him chairman as if the unceremonious and embarrassing end to his legislative career didn’t happen.  He even implored MMM not to write about the damage he has done, not just to Monmouth County, the Monmouth GOP, but to the entire State of New Jersey and the New Jersey GOP.  “Don’t write bad things about me!” Bennett exclaimed when we met for almost three hours early last month.  We hoped he would realize the obvious himself and that we wouldn’t have to write the truth about him.   Unfortunately that has turned out not to be the case. 

Just as he did in 2003 when he ignored then County Chairman Bill Dowd’s call to abandon his unwinnable reelection bid, Bennett has his head in the sand now.  Just as he didn’t see that his continued candidacy in 2003 would not only cost Republicans the 12^th legislative district but control of the State Senate where he was Co-President, Bennett doesn’t see now that his being Chairman could very well cost the Monmouth GOP control of the county government which we have worked so hard to win back over the last four years.

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Monmouth GOP Chair’s Race, Part 1: The way the game is played

Ultimately the job of a county chair is to win elections.

Unfortunately, much of the current campaign for Monmouth GOP chair has been focused on the spoils of victory—which lawyer would be a hungrier pig if he/she got elected.

That issue is a red herring.

John Bennett’s pledge that he, his daughter and his firm will forsake doing legal work for the county should he be elected chair would be impressive if he also pledged to forsake municipal work and pledged not to trade legal work at the county and municipal levels with chairs from other counties.  That will never happen.

Bennett has demonstrated over his thirty year career that he is a master of working the system for the benefit of himself and his family.  There can be no  little doubt that before he pledged that he and his daughter would not do legal work for Monmouth County should he be elected GOP County Chair, that he already had made a deal to replace and expand those billable hours and retainers in other counties.  To put it bluntly, if Bennett becomes Chair, his income will increase from Ocean County and Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore’s income will increase in Monmouth County. 

“That’s the way the game is played,” one Bennett supporter recently told MMM in defense of the obvious.

John Bennett’s career is a case study in “the way the game is played.”   From the high five figure state pension, plus lifetime health benefits, he is collecting from tacking together part time jobs, a practice that is no longer legal, to the jobs he has secured for himself and his family members on the state, county and municipal levels, to making the government work that his opponent in the Chair’s race, Christine Hanlon and her partners, do an issue in this race, Bennett is the maestro.

Talk to me about the potential conflicts of interest of your opponent after you’ve pledged to give up all government work for yourself and your family.  Short of that, please stop insulting our intelligence.

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Rand Paul Endorses Romney

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul endorsed Mitt Romney for President yesterday, less than 24 hours after his father, Texas Congressman Ron Paul sent out an email to supporters acknowledging that he does not have enough delegates to win the GOP nomination.

The Bayshore Tea Party Group and the Monouth County Tea Party Coalition are calling for the elder Paul to disown his son.

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Pallone Expected Anna Little’s Primary Victory

Charles Measley is hilarious.

The Ryder University student, Rumson County Committeeman, and founder of the FrankPalloneNotForNewJersey blog  wakes up every morning thinking of ways to get Frank Pallone out of office.

Early this year when it appeared that no Republican would step up to run against Pallone, Charles set out to find a candidate.  Anna Little was still running for U.S. Senate at that point.

As the self appointed Chairman of the Defeat Pallone Brigade, Charles spoke to dozens of potential candidates; elected officials, former candidates, even bloggers, all of whom had 4 million and 1 good reasons not to run against the incumbent congressman, until Ernesto Cullari said yes.  Charles became a campaign manager.

Pallone doesn’t seem to mind. 

Here, Pallone poses with Charles wearing a Bayshore Tea Party t-shirt during an April 2011 beach clean up in Belmar.

Over the Memorial Day weekend last month, Charles was driving down Ocean Avenue in Long Branch when he spotted Pallone gardening in his front yard. Never one to miss an opportunity, Charles stopped to ask the congressman who he preferred his opponent to be; Little or Cullari.  Charles recorded the conversation. Click on the link to listen to their chat:

Frank Pallone tells Charles Measley who will win the GOP primary in CD-6

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Still a Little Paperwork To Do

6th congressional district GOP nominee Anna Little has yet to file as a candidate for Congress with the Federal Election Commission, according to an FEC spokesperson who spoke to MMM this morning.

Little’s husband, Rob, told PolitickerNJ last week that all required reports would be filed with the FEC prior to the primary.

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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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Wall Republicans: Hanlon Has the “Moxy” To Be Chair

The entirely Republican Wall Township Committee is asking their County Committee Members to support Christine G. Hanlon for Monmouth County Republican Chair.

The following letter signed by Mayor Jeff Foster, Deputy Mayor Todd Luttman, and Committee Members Clint Hoffman, George Newberry and Ann Marie Conte was sent to the Wall County Committee Members earlier this week:

As you know, Monmouth County GOP Chairman Joseph Oxley has been nominated by Governor Christie to sit on the bench of the NJ Superior Court, and therefore will not be seeking reelection as our county chairman. I am sure you join us in wishing Mr. Oxley all the best. After much consideration, we, your elected Township Committee, unanimously support Christine Giordano Hanlon to replace Oxley as County Chairman. 

Over the last several years, Mrs. Hanlon has been a tireless worker for Monmouth County Republicans.  An attorney and former District Attorney who prosecuted white collar crimes, she is the Republican State Committeewoman serving Monmouth County. As Oxley’s “right hand man,” she helped to regain control of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and ensured the reelection of Sheriff Shaun Golden and Surrogate Rosemarie Peters by wide margins. In 2009, she worked to help Monmouth County deliver one of the largest margins of victory ever to elect Governor Chris Christie and Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno.  She was also County Coordinator for the McCain-Palin campaign and is the Chair of the Ocean Township Republican Party.  In short, she’s been the force behind many successful elections and we believe she has the drive and experience to help lead the Monmouth County GOP into the future.

Hanlon has a very specific agenda to improve communication and transparency in County GOP politics, improve voter outreach through the use of technology, and build on our existing excellent grassroots network. She is a tireless worker, has a proven record of success, and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support GOP efforts here in Monmouth County.  Furthermore, she has been endorsed by several members of the Senate and Assembly who can personally attest to her passion, commitment and unprecedented integrity.

We believe Christine Hanlon has the unique mix of skill, experience, innovation and moxy to be the next Monmouth County GOP Chairman.  We hope you will join us in supporting her at the Monmouth County Republican Committee Reorganization on June 12 at Colts Neck High School.

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Current, Former Legislators Endorse Bennett for Monmouth GOP Chair

Senator Robert Singer, Assemblymen Sean Kean and Declan O’Scanlon as well as former Assembly members Clare Farragher, Michael Arnone, and Marie Muhler (also former Surrogate) have endorsed John Bennett for Monmouth GOP Chair in a letter to County Committee members that reads as follows:

We are writing to request your support for our friend, former colleague and State Committeeman Senator John Bennett as the next Chair of the Monmouth County Republican Party.

Senator Bennett, as a member of the Monmouth County legislative delegation for over twenty-four years, has always put the interests of the people of Monmouth County first.  Whether it was improving the environment, cutting taxes, bringing home State dollars or fighting for our seniors, John was in the forefront and got the job done.

Besides his excellent legislative record, Senator Bennett has time and time again demonstrated his leadership ability.  For years he served as Chairman of the Assembly Environmental Committee and championed some of the most effective environmental legislation in the history of our State.

Upon being elected to the New Jersey Senate, Senator Bennett was soon selected by his legislative colleagues to become he Deputy Majority Leader and thereafter the Senate Majority Leader.  In January 2002, Senator Bennett became the Senate President and was sworn in on the same day as Acting Governor of New Jersey.

Senator Bennett has proposed a Ten-Point-Plan for this platform as our Chairman which includes: returning the County Convention System for candidate selection, developing and implementing a set of by-laws within sixty (60) days and establishing a Board of Directors with regional representatives.  He has also pledged that his law firm will not accept any County work or any County job during his tenure as County Chair to avoid any perceived conflict of interest.

Senator Bennett is a proven leader who unites factions and can maitain our party as a strong and inclusive one,  his experience and leadership will serve our Coutny origanization well and we urge you to supoort him at the convention on Tuesday June 12 at 7:00 P.M. at the Colts Neck High School for Monmouth Republican Chair.

 

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