Field of Five Seeks To Replace Rible In The NJ State Assembly

ABC Director Dave Rible

Five candidates have emerged to fill the vacancy in the State Assembly in the 30th Legislative District created by Dave Rible’s resignation to become the Director of the Alcohol Beverage Commission.

Rible, 49 of Wall Township, was the Assembly Republican Conference Leader until his July 17th resignation. The GOP County Committees from the 30th Legislative  District will select a candidate to fill vacancy and take Rible’s place on the general election ballot at a convention that is tentatively scheduled for August 9 at the IBEW #400 Union Hall in Wall.  The 30th District is comprised of Avon-by-the-Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach,Brielle, Farmingdale, Howell, Lake Como, Manasquan, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights, and Wall in Monmouth County as well as Lakewood and Point Pleasant in Ocean County.

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Did Senator Kean Miss An Opportunity?

 By Tommy DeSeno

Have you ever seen a news wave?  It’s a real phenomenon in journalism.  One outlet says something, then outlet after outlet says the same thing, never verifying if the first outlet was right.  And you can’t stop a wave, even if it’s wrong.
 
As soon as the new 30th district was announced, immediately the word got out that Senator Singer would have the advantage over Senator Kean.  I guess Senator Kean concurred, having agreed to move down to the Assembly.
 
I like Singer.  But his comments in the Press yesterday that Sean Kean would be primaried even if Singer retired has me angry.  It’s as if Bob is throwing down the gauntlet and declaring that the rest of us will be governed by Lakewood for the next 10 years.
 
Well, as a Howell boy, I’m pretty upset that I had to be governed by Lakewood the last 10 years.  So I’m calling bullshit on Singer, which I can do even though we are friends, because I’m a journalist first.
 
Howell and Wall combined are larger than Lakewood, so if Howell and Wall got behind Kean, that could be a fair fight against Lakewood.
 
As for the rest of the district, those little Monmouth shore towns are larger than the 2 Pt. Pleasants, and Sean has name recognition there while Singer does not.
 
I know what the road block would have been – Howell Republicans.  They rarely get along.  But John Costigan is a strong Municipal Chair.  He could have pulled the Howell Republicans together (which would be a nice thing all by itself) to back Kean.  The rallying cry would have been provincial but effective –  Monmouth needs to keep a Senator.
 
I really wish Sean decided to stay Senator.  I’m not reading next week’s triCityNews, because I don’t want to know what Dan Jacobson will call Sean now.

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Done Deal: Singer, Kean and Rible comprise the 30th District Ticket

By Art Gallagher

Senators Robert Singer and Sean Kean have come to an agreement that has Singer running for Senate in the new 30th legislative district and Kean running for Assembly.  Assemblyman Dave Rible will complete the Monmouth-Ocean GOP ticket in the district.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the Senator for coastal Monmouth County’s 11th District for the last four years,” said Senator Kean.  “I care deeply about this state and refuse to let a political hit job by the Democratic redistricting commissioners derail my desire to serve.  I have been in the trenches of Governor Christie’s efforts to bring fiscal discipline and property tax relief to the most highly taxed people in America since the beginning.  That is a fight on which I have no intention of giving up.  After a great deal of thought and consultation with family, friends, and supporters, I have decided to seek election to the Assembly in the new 30th District.  Bob Singer and I have a great working relationship representing adjacent districts in the Senate and a tremendous amount of mutual respect.  I look forward to working with him for the good of our newly shared constituents in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.”

Singer said he looks forward running with Kean in the upcoming campaign.  “Sean is a talented legislator who works hard for the people he represents,” said Singer.  “We need him in the Legislature to stand with the taxpayers after the damage done to New Jersey by ten years of unchecked Democratic control of Trenton.  I want to thank him for putting the needs of the people we serve and party unity ahead of personal ambition, and look forward to serving with him and Assemblyman Rible in our new district.”

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What will George do?

By Art Gallagher

Looming large for incumbents and potential legislative candidates in the new 12th and 30th legislative districts is the question, “What will George Gilmore do?”

Gilmore is the Chairman of the powerful Ocean County Republican Organization.  He was a member of the Redistricting Commission.

The new 12th includes Plumsted,Jackson and the Pt. Pleasants in Ocean County.  Ronald Dancer of Plumsted is an incumbent Assemblyman.  Sam Thompson of Old Bridge (Middlesex) is also an incumbent Assemblyman in the new district.  There is a Senate vacancy.  Monmouth County Freeholder Director Rob Clifton and Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas, also of Monmouth County, have both announced their intention to seek a legislative seat in the district.

Will Gilmore put up candidates to challenge Thompson, Clifton and Lucas? 

Likewise in the new 30th, Glimore looms large.  Monmouth County’s population dominates the new 30th, but Robert Singer has represented Howell of Monmouth for years.  Singer is better known in Howell than Sean Kean is. 

Dave Rible is the only incumbent Assembly member from the new 30th.  Rible hasn’t returned a call for comment, but some of his supporters from the old 11th are worried that Dave could be vulnerable should Gilmore field two Assembly candidates in the district.

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Clifton will seek a seat in the legislature

By Art Gallagher

Monmouth County Freeholder Director Rob Clifton told MoreMonmouthMusings that he will seek the GOP nomination for the legislative vacancy in the new 12th district.

The district as comprised has no incumbent Senator.  Sam Thompson of Old Bridge (Middlesex County) and Ronald Dancer of Plumsted (Ocean County) are incumbent Assemblymen. 

Clifton is unsure if he will be seeking a Senate seat or an Assembly seat.

Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas is considering entering the fray in the new 12th.  Lucas told MMM that he will make a decision within 24 hours.

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