Marchese drops out of LD 13 Assembly race, Endorses Handlin and DiMaso

Fair Haven Councilman Bob Marchese

Fair Haven Councilman Bob Marchese told MMM that he will not submit his Letter of Intent to run for Assembly in the 13th legislative district and that he is throwing his support behind incumbent Assemblywoman Amy Handlin and Freeholder Serena DiMaso.

“We are fortunate that Amy Handlin has chosen to continue her career in the Assembly,” Marchese said of Handlin who, until this morning was in a race to replace Senator Joe Kyrillos with her district mate, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon. “Declan was always my guy to replace Senator Kyrillos.  The notion of losing two accomplished incumbents in the district, Kyrillos and either O’Scanlon or Handlin, in one election cycle was not ideal.

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Atlantic Highlands Councilman Will Not Run For Assembly

Councilman Peter Doyle has his eye on DiMaso’s Freeholder seat

Atlantic Highlands Councilman Peter Doyle

The entrance of Monmouth County Freeholder Serena DiMaso and Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger into the race for the GOP nominations for the Assembly seats currently held by Assemblywoman Amy Handlin and Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon has prompted one rumored candidate to declare that he is not running for Assembly and to express his interest in DiMaso’s seat on the Freeholder Board should she elected to the legislature on November 7.

Atlantic Highlands Councilman Peter Doyle released this following statement this afternoon:

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LD 13 Assembly Race Draws A Crowd As Scharfenberger Jumps In

Monmouth County Freeholder Serena DiMaso and Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger could be running mates for Assembly this fall.

Suddenly there is a race for the 13th District Assembly seats currently held by Assembly Members Declan O’Scanlon and Amy Handlin.

Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger announced his candidacy for Assembly, with a video posted on facebook, just hours after Monmouth County Freeholder Serena DiMaso announced her candidacy via press release this morning.

DiMaso’s and Scharfenberger’s announcements follow Fair Haven Councilman Bob Marchese’s announcement last week and Handlin’s statement last month that she wants to run for reelection to the Assembly should she fail to win the LD 13 State Senate nomination at the yet to be scheduled GOP nominating convention. Handlin said she would abide by the will of the County Committee vote at a convention.

O’Scanlon has maintained that he’s running for Senate and nothing else.

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2017 Predictions

Joe Piscopo

In a repeat of Super Bowl I, the Green Bay Packers will defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LI.  America will be great again.

Jared Kushner will buy Twitter.

The U.S. Supreme Court will reject Senator Robert Menendez’s arguments that constitutional separation of powers prohibits the Justice Department from prosecuting a New Jersey Senator for using the influence of his office in exchange for gifts and favors from a Florida businessman.  Menendez will step down from the Senate as part of a deal that excludes prison and a felony record.

Governor Chris Christie will appoint NJ Senate President Steve Sweeney to complete Menendez’s term in the U.S. Senate.

Republican Joe Piscopo will defeat Democrat Phil Murphy to become the Governor of New Jersey.

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Handlin will run for Assembly if she fails in Senate bid, wants O’Scanlon to do the same

O’Scanlon: “While I appreciate Amy’s confidence and endorsement for Assembly, I am running for Senate”

Assemblywoman Amy Handlin said she would seek another term in the New Jersey General Assembly if the 13th district County Committee members choose another candidate to replace Senator Joe Kyrillos in the upper house of the legislature.  So far, the only other candidate for the Senate seat is Handlin’s district mate, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon.

“Yes and yes,” Handlin said when asked if she would seek the GOP nomination for Assembly if she failed in her Senate bid and if she wanted O’Scanlon on the ticket as a candidate for Assembly.

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Beck Endorses O’Scanlon For Senate

Senator Jennifer Beck announced her endorsement of Assembly Declan O’Scanlon for the 13th district senate seat being vacated by Senator Joe Kyrillos.

“Declan was my running-mate when we first ran for the Assembly together in 2005” said Beck. “I had known him for years prior, but I learned during that hard fought campaign what a tireless worker he is and saw first hand his dedication to the residents of New Jersey”

“Declan showed that he is a leader early in his stint in the Assembly, being named Assembly Republican Budget Officer before the end of his second term. He commits himself to knowing all facets of a given policy before he makes a decision. There is no legislator that has been more focused on our looming budget issues or who has proposed more comprehensive solutions” Beck explained. “Assemblyman O’Scanlon stands tall above all other candidates for the State Senate and I look forward to having Declan join me in the upper house of the legislature”.

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Are All 3 Seats in LD 13 at play? Handlin and O’Scanlon appear to be headed to a primary

All three seats in the 13th legislative district appear to be up for grabs next year.

If published reports are to believed, Assembly Members Amy Handlin and Declan O’Scanlon are heading for a primary in June for the GOP nomination to succeed Senator Joe Kyrillos in the New Jersey Senate.

If both Handlin and O’Scanlon compete on the June ballot, rather than letting the County Committee members choose a nominee at a convention, both Assembly seats will be vacant.

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Mayor Scharfenberger: ACLU criticism of Middletown pro-law enforcement rally is absurd

photo via facebook

Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger, Phd, said that the ACLU’s objection to the ceremony at Middletown High School South last week honoring law enforcement, fire, first aid and military personnel is “absurd” and inconsistent with the organizations mission of protecting free speech.

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Middletown Recognizes Richard Saker As A Distinguished Citizen

Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger, Laura Saker and Richard Saker

Middletown– Mayor Gerald Scharfenberger, PhD. and the Township Committee awarded Richard Saker the Distinguished Citizen Award at the Township Committee meeting on February 15.

Saker, the head of Saker ShopRites, Inc., was honored for his ongoing and significant contributions to the township’s Cultural and Arts Council, the Middletown Arts Center, and Middletown Day. He’s a major sponsor of many township outreach programs including the Welcome Home Picnic for Vietnam Veterans and the Mayor’s Food Basket. He’s also dedicated member of the Economic Development Committee, explained Mayor  Scharfenberger.

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Scharfenberger: Middletown is ready for the storm

Middletown, NJ- Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger, Ph.D. announced today that the Township is ready for the coastal storm that is expected to hit New Jersey on Friday.

“Middletown is ready to face what may be the first major snow storm of the season,” said Scharfenberger, “The township has 153 pieces of equipment at its disposal to clear snow from more than 650 lane miles of road.”

The fleet includes 83 township plows, brining machines, sanders, and other heavy equipment. The township can put more equipment on the road this year thanks to the recent acquisition of several army surplus vehicles at no cost. The other 70 plows are provided by local contractors who augment township snow removal efforts as needed.

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