Freeholders, Legislature Honor Bob Burlew In Union Beach

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New Jersey State Legislature honored Bob Burlew, the recently retired code enforcement and construction official for Union Beach and Keyport, at the Freeholders regular meeting which was held in Union Beach last evening.

Burlew is a real life hero to thousands of Bayshore residents who suffered devastating losses in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. His compassion, commitment and encyclopedic knowledge of the government’s byzantine recovery regulations has eased the burden for many throughout the years long rebuilding process.

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Warren Chamberlain Fills Keyport Council Seat

Warren Chamberlain, center, takes the oath of office as a Keyport Councilman. Borough Clerk Valerie Valerie Heilweil, left, and Keyport GOP Chairman Bob Burlew, right.

Warren Chamberlain, 63, was sworn in as a councilman in Keyport on Friday.  He was selected by the Keyport Republican Committee on Thursday to fill the seat of Clemente Toglia, the reelected council member who died suddenly on December 31, the day before his new term was to start.

“I’m happy to be working with the rest of the council and the mayor, for the people of Keyport,” Chamberlain said, “but I’m very sad about the circumstances. Clemente will be greatly missed.  This council is a great group, Republicans and Democrats.  We will work together well.”

Chamberlain is starting his second stint on the Keyport council.  In 2011 he was selected to fill a vacancy on the board and then lost the election to complete the term he was appointed to to Kenneth McPeek to by 4 votes.  He will be serving with McPeek this year.

The new councilman was a Monmouth County Sheriff’s Officer from 1982 through 1996. He retired with a disability pension after suffering back injuries in an altercation with inmates in the jail. From 1986 through 1990, he was president of PBA Local 240.

In 1992, Chamberlain was the Democratic nominee for Monmouth County Sheriff, losing to incumbent Republican William Lanzaro by 2700 votes.

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John Kaye is President of the Monmouth Republican Affiliated Club

By Art Gallagher

Former Monmouth County Prosecutor John Kaye is the new president of the Monmouth County Affiliated Republican Club.

Kaye takes over from Wayne Pomanowski who served as president for the maximum two years allowed by the club’s bylaws.  1st Vice President Gerri Popkin and 2nd Vice President Bob Burlew were unable to step up to the presidency due to other obligations.  Howell Chairman John Costigan, the club Sergeant-At-Arms, declined the post because he is running to replace Monmouth GOP Chairman John Bennett on the GOP State Committee. Pomanowski said he suggested Kaye to Bennett.

Bennett said that Kaye was the unanimous choice of the club’s trustees at their January meeting.  All other officers, except Pomanowski, retained their previous club offices. Pomanowski remains on the board.

The choice struck me as odd given 1) the wealth of up and coming talent in the Monmouth GOP and 2) Kaye’s rocky historical relationship with Govenor Chris Christie including the controversy surrounding Kaye towards the end of his distinguished 23 year career as Monmouth County Prosecutor.

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DiBella Not Running, Strongly Supports Walsh For Freeholder

Former Howell Mayor Joe DiBella said that he will not be a candidate for Freeholder and that he strongly supports current Howell Mayor Bob Walsh for the post.   DiBella said that he and Walsh, formerly political adversaries, have become close friends.

Walsh and Holmdel Deputy Mayor Serena DiMaso are the currently declared candidates to fill the vacancy caused by Freeholder Director Rob Clifton’s election to the State Assembly.  A new Freeholder will be elected at a Republican County Committee convention on January 14, 2012.  The winner will take office immediately and will have to defend the seat in the 2012 and 2013 general elections.

Other candidates mentioned by party leaders or said to be considering a bid include Atlantic Highlands Councilman Peter Doyle, Affiliated Republican Club Vice President Bob Burlew of Keyport, former Middletown Committeeman Tom Wilkens,  Manalapan Deputy Mayor Ryan Green, Freehold Township Deputy Mayor Anthony Ammiano and Wall Committeeman George Newberry.

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Freeholder Election To Be Held On January 14th

Field of Candidates Looks To Be Widening

By Art Gallagher

The Republican County convention  to elect a Monmouth County Freeholder to fill the coming vacancy caused by Freeholder Director Rob Clifton’s ascension to the State Assembly will be held on Saturday January 14th, according to GOP Chairman Joe Oxley.  The location and exact time has yet to be determined.

A quorum, 50% plus 1, of all Republican County Committee members, as certified by the Superintendent of Elections, must be present for the election to be to be official.

Howell Mayor Bob Walsh is a candidate.   Those considering entering the race include Holmdel Deputy Mayor Serena DiMaso, former Freeholder Bill Barham, Wall Committee member George Newberry, Keyport Councilman Bob Burlew, Atlantic Highlands Councilman Peter Doyle, Manalapan Deputy Mayor Ryan Green, former Middletown Committee member Tom Wilkens and former Howell Mayor Joe DiBella.

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