New award to honor former County Clerk M. Claire French

Clerks: Christine Giordano Hanlon and her predecessor M. Claire French

FREEHOLD, NJ – Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon has announced the creation of the annual “M. Claire French Award for Leadership in Historic Preservation.”

French, Hanlon’s predecessor, was County Clerk from 1997 until her retirement on April 1, 2015. During French’s 18-year tenure, she oversaw the modernization of the Clerk’s Office, including digitizing county records and the electronic reporting of election results, as well as the expansion of the Office’s services with Monmouth County Connection Office in Neptune Township.

“Claire was an outstanding leader and public servant for more than 30 years, 18 years as Clerk. We want to recognize and remember her long time dedication to the County of Monmouth,” Hanlon said.  “Importantly, as County Clerk, Claire supervised the Monmouth County Archives and worked to improve the ability to preserve our historic records and make them accessible to the public.”

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Hanlon Sworn In As Acting Monmouth County Clerk

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.

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Monmouth GOP Honors Claire French

Monmouth County Clerk M. Clair French address the Monmouth GOP convention. Chairman Shaun Golden in background. photo by Art Gallagher

An impressive crowd of over 400 Monmouth Republican County Committee members gathered on Saturday morning to nominate their candidates for State Assembly, County Clerk and Freeholder.  The size of the crowd was impressive not only because of the weather but because the results of the convention were a foregone conclusion as there were no challengers to the incumbent Assembly Members, Freeholder or Governor Chris Christie’s nominee for County Clerk.

Free of any competitive tensions, the mood at Colts Neck High School was upbeat, friendly and proud among the grassroots leaders who came out for Chairman Shaun Golden first nominating convention.  Freeholder Deputy Director Serena DiMaso noted both the size and enthusiasm of the crowd. “This crowd is almost as large as last year’s convention when we had a competition for the freeholder nominations,” DiMaso said, “We’re in really great shape and that is a testament to Shaun’s leadership.”

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