Private companies are mail soliciting Monmouth County homeowners to pay between $79 and $89 for certified copies of the deeds to their homes, according to a statement by County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon. Those same copies can be had from Hanlon’s office for $10.00.
“It is unfortunate that companies would prey upon citizens who are sometimes already struggling financially, especially our senior citizens in Monmouth County who are living on fixed incomes,” Hanlon said, “for a very minimal fee, residential and commercial property owners can request and receive a copy of their deed, and other property documents, directly from the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office.”
Hanlon cautions property owners to be on the lookout for these solicitations because they appear as if they are coming from a government agency, but they are not.
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.
The Monmouth County Democrats will hold a “mini-convention” this evening at the IBEW Local 400 Union Hall in Wall Township to formally nominate their slate of County and Legislative candidates for the June 2 primary.
Jeanne Cullinane is challenging Assembly Members Amy Handlin and Declan O’Scanlon in the 13th legislative district
MMM has learned that Hazlet Board of Education member Tom Herman will be a candidate for Assembly in the 13th legislative district, challenging incumbent Republicans Amy Handlin and Declan O’Scanlon. Joining Herman on the Democratic ticket in the 13th will be Jeanne Cullinane, also of Hazlet, a political newcomer.
Monmouth County Chairman Vin Gopal has previously announced on his blog that Neptune Township Zoning Board Member Carol Rizzo will challenge incumbent Republican Freeholder John Curley. There has been speculation that Rizzo was seperated at birth from Rumson Democratic Chairman and former Democratic candidate for Surrogate, Michael Steinhorn.
Monmouth County GOP Chairman Shaun Golden and Freeholder John Curley made their statewide debuts on Monday before the assembled Republicans in Atlantic City.
O’Scanlon and Co. have been relentless in monitoring the Red Light Camera Program and telling the truth about it. They have hired independent experts to investigate complaints and document fraud within the program. They have sorted through data that has regularly been obfuscated by the red light camera companies (and bureaucrats friendly to them) to reflect improved safety conditions at RCL intersections where in fact conditions had often worsened. They have worked hard in getting the word out about the program’s failure and corruption. They have countered expensive advertising campaigns by the red light camera companies and countered expensive lobbyists working the halls of the Statehouse, without the benefit of the profits the red light camera companies stole from the motoring public to fund their efforts.
In thwarting the Red Light Camera Program’s renewal, O’Scanlon has proved himself to be “the real deal”….a leader who fights for the right thing because it is the right thing. He is an example of what a “public servant” should be.
Christine Giordano Hanlon
Dubbed The Architect by Monmouth GOP Chairman Shaun Golden, Hanlon designed Golden’s defeat of John Bennett for leadership of the County Party, avenging her razor thin 3 vote defeat by Bennett in 2012. By building a coalition of previous regional rivals and splitting Bennett’s 2012 coalition, which he failed to nourish, Hanlon demonstrated strategic leadership without seeking the limelight or accolades.
With remarkable teamwork on the part of the candidates, county and municipal leaders and key members of the legislative delegation outside of the 13th legislative district, the Monmouth County Republican Organization earned the resounding endorsement of a Republican electorate that has proven over the years that performance and integrity matter far more to them than party loyalty.
Big egos checked, big leaders pulled together to support each other. A real team emerged.
By virtue of his long term friendship with Governor Christie and his campaign for U.S. Senate last year, State Senator Joe Kyrillos is on every Christie mind reader’s short list of possible U.S. Senators to replace the late Frank Lautenberg.
Assuming Kyrillos defeats Leigh-Ann Bellew in the primary today, his move to the U.S. Senate would create a vacancy for the nomination for State Senate in LD 13. If either Assemblywoman Amy Handlin or Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon move up to the Senate slot, as would be expected, there will be an Assembly nomination vacancy.
Neither Handlin nor O’Scanlon will say if they want the State Senate seat, which probably means they both want it. Even so, I would expect that they would work that out amongst themselves rather than have a convention fight.
A nominating convention for the resulting Assembly vacancy would bring out a wealth of Republican talent.
Eileen Kean has withdrawn as a candidate for the New Jersey Republican State Committee from Monmouth County, leaving incumbent Committeewoman Christine Hanlon unopposed for the party’s nomination on March 23 in Colts Neck.
In a statement emailed to members of the Monmouth County Republican Committee, Kean called for party unity and then endorsed Howell GOP Chairman John Costigan for the male slot on the committee. Costigan and Middletown GOP Chairman Peter Carton are competing to replace Monmouth GOP Chairman John Bennett on the Republican State Committee.
After much deliberation, I have made the decision to withdraw my name as a candidate for State Committee and support our incumbent State Committeewoman Christine Hanlon for re-election. I believe this is in the best interest of the Monmouth County Republican Party and will continue the unification efforts of Chairman Bennett. I welcome the opportunity to serve and know that there will be future opportunities for me to contribute to the Monmouth County GOP.
I believe our Party is heading in the right direction under the leadership of John Bennett. Personal agendas need to be put aside and unifying the party is paramount. Thank you for your consideration and please join with me in supporting Christine Hanlon for re-election as Monmouth County’s State Committeewoman and John Costigan as Monmouth County’s State Committeeman.
