Poll worker Annie Barr stands by while Governor Chris Christie votes for President of the United States with his daughter Bridget, at the Mendham Emergency Services Building in Mendham, N.J. on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. (Governor’s Office/Tim Larsen)
There is an urgent need of poll workers in Monmouth County, especially in the coastal towns impacted by Hurricane Sandy, according to a statement today by Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon.
“Voting is one of the greatest privileges that we have as Americans,” said Hanlon. “Poll workers are essential to the voting process. Right now, we are asking our Monmouth County citizens to become a part of this process to help ensure fair and efficiently run elections.”
To qualify to be a poll worker, you must be a registered voter in Monmouth County and attend a poll worker training class. Classes are being scheduled now for the November General Election.
Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon recently made an amazing discovery. While settling into her new job and familiarizing herself with the various functions of her office, Hanlon discovered the naturalization records of 34,677 Monmouth County residents who applied for United States citizenship between 1800 and 1991.
Until 1991 when the the responsibility of granting citizenship was transferred solely to the federal Immigration and Naturalization Service, the recording and filing of records from naturalized citizens was the responsibility of the County Clerk.
Clerks: Christine Giordano Hanlon and her predecessor M. Claire French. MMM file photo
Christine Giordano Hanlon was confirmed as Monmouth County Clerk today by a unanimous vote of the New Jersey State Senate.
Hanlon was nominated by Governor Chris Christie in February to fill the anticipated vacancy created by former Clerk M. Claire French’s retirement announcement. She has been serving as Acting Clerk since French left office at the end of business on March 31.
“I am honored to have been confirmed today, and can now be sworn in as the Clerk of Monmouth County,” said Hanlon. “It is my privilege to serve the citizens of Monmouth County in this capacity and I look forward to continuing the great work of my predecessor, M. Claire French.”
Hanlon’s nomination was supported by Monmouth Senators Joe Kyrillos, Jennifer Beck and Robert Singer, as well as Republican County Chairman Shaun Golden and outgoing Clerk M. Claire French. “Christine has our full support and we are confident she will do an exemplary job as Clerk,” said Senator Kyrillos. “Her background as an attorney for over 20 years and as a Commissioner on the Monmouth Board of Elections makes her exceedingly qualified for this position and we know she will do a great job.”
Acting Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon
Acting Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon is advising County residents who are not registered to vote that the deadline to register and vote in the June 2 primary is May 12.
All U.S. Citizens who will be 18 years of age or older on June 2 and who will have lived in the county 30 days prior to the primary are eligible to vote if they are not currently serving a sentence or on probation or parole for a felony conviction. Registration applications must include a NJ Driver’s License number, a MVC Non-driver ID number or the last four digits of the voter’s social security number.
Voter Registration Applications can be downloaded from the County website, here. Applications can be mailed in, be brought to your municipal clerk or be brought to the Monmouth County Voter Registration Office, 300 Halls Mills Rd. in Freehold Township. Mailed applications must be received by May 12 in order to the new voter to be eligible to vote in the primary.
Monmouth County Clerk M.Claire French, Robert Hanlon, Acting Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon and Judge Joseph W. Oxley
Monmouth County Clerk M. Claire French started her last day in office by holding the bible as her successor, Christine Giordano Hanlon, was sworn-in this morning by Superior Court Judge Joseph W. Oxley.
Hanlon is Governor Chris Christie’s nominee to replace French who announced her retirement effective today in early January. Hanlon will serve as Acting Clerk until she is confirmed by the NJ State Senate, or until she is elected to her own 5 year term. She is the Republican nominee for the position in this November’s election.
Christine Giordano Hanlon and Monmouth County Clerk M. Claire French at the Assembly Republicans event in Atlantic City, February 2, 2015. photo by Art Gallagher
Governor Chris Christie has nominated Christine Giordano Hanlon, Esq., to replace M. Claire French as Monmouth County Clerk.
French, who has served as Clerk since 1997 and been elected four times, announced her retirement effective in March last month. Her term was scheduled to expire at the end of 2017.
Hanlon, of Ocean Township, is an attorney at Archer & Greiner’s Middletown, NJ office. She serves as Deputy Borough Attorney in Tinton Falls, Prosecutor in Atlantic Highlands and as a Commissioner of the Monmouth County Board of Elections. A member of Christie’s transition team in 2009, Hanlon is also Vice Chair of the Monmouth County Republican Organization.
Hanlon’s nomination is subject to confirmation by the State Senate. It is expected that Hanlon will be nominated to run for a full five year term by the Monmouth GOP and stand for election in November.
Monmouth County Clerk M. Claire French will retire in March.
French told MMM in a phone interview that she will decide by the end of this week whether her retirement will be effective on March 1 or March 31.
Appointed to fill the vacancy created by Jane Clayton’s retirement in 1997, French was elected to four 5 year terms. Had she completed her current term she would have served the residents of Monmouth County through the end of 2017.
French, 77, started her career in public service as a member of the Wall Township Committee where she served two terms as Mayor. She has held either elected or appointed office for 35 years serving as at every level of New Jersey government. French was the first Chair of the Monmouth County Improvement Authority, was Vice Chair of the Local Finance Board and has served on various regional authorities. She is a Eucharistic Minister at Holy Innocents Church in Neptune City.
