GOP gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli and Middletown Mayor Tony Perry celebrate Middletown’s reorganization on January 3, 2021
Municipal reorganizations are a big deal for New Jersey elected officials, especially during a gubernatorial election year. Newly elected and reelected mayors, council and committee members, and fire chiefs are celebrated and their families are thanked by their communities for their sacrifice. The new officials make optimistic speeches about the future of the communities and big shots from state and county government show up to issue the Oaths of Office and pose for pictures.
In 2009 former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, not yet a declared candidate for Governor, was all over New Jersey swearing in mayors and council members on January 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. His first stop was Middletown where he issued the Oath of Office to newly elected Committeeman Tony Fiore as Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger looked on.
Kim Guadagno is still cutting red tape while she is feeding thousands
photo via pixnio
By Art Gallagher
N.J. Looks to Award $2 Million to Buy Meals from Struggling Restaurants– A $2 million state program to provide $100,000 grants to organizations that purchase meals from restaurants impacted by the pandemic and distribute them at no cost to New Jersey residents has begun taking applications. Applications are due by Jan. 8. Click here for more information. (ROI-NJ)
I got excited when I read the above headline and lede in yesterday’s NJ Chamber of Commerce’s daily Coronavirus and Economic Recovery Update.
The RAINE Foundation immediately occurred to me as an organization that could spring to action and support local businesses while feeding those struggling to put food on the table. In my mind I was thinking of other community organizations and restaurants that could participate.
My enthusiasm quickly dissipated when I clicked through to Business.NJ.Gov and read the fine print. There’s the usual hoops to jump through for government work–proving your entity is registered with the state and has no outstanding tax issues. But there’s one big obstacle that would probably knock my friends at RAINE, the Highlands Business Partnership, Middletown Helps Its Own and other non-profits from participating in the NJ Economic Development Authority’s grant program.
Kim Guadagno and Jack Ciattarelli at the 2017 GOP nominating convention
Former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli is apparently looking to clear his path to the 2021 Republican gubernatorial nomination by inviting his past and potential political opponents to attend his campaign kickoff.
Ciattarelli, who lost the GOP gubernatorial primary to former Lt. Gov Kim Guadagno in 2017, will ceremonially announce his candidacy at his high school alma matter in Raritan on January 21, according to a NewJerseyGlobe report. He told the Associated Press that he was running last February and has been a frequent guest at GOP events throughout New Jersey ever since.
MMM has learned that the candidate has personally invited Guadagno, as well and NJ GOP Chairman Doug Steinhardt, Monmouth County GOP Chairman, Sheriff Shaun Golden, and former U.S. Senate candidate Bob Hugin to attend the event.
Tonight in New Jersey, children will go to bed hungry. Contrary to popular notions about hunger in America, most are not homeless. In fact, most New Jersey families that struggle to put food on the table live in households that have at least one working adult.
In Monmouth County, where I live, and in neighboring Ocean County, one in ten residents don’t know where their next meal will come from, let alone whether if it will be nutritious. One in seven of those ten are children. The anxiety and fear of not knowing is what social services agencies call “food insecurity.”
That is why I am beginning a new chapter in my life this week: leading the effort to end hunger in our community as Chief Executive Officer of Fulfill, formerly the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Fulfill aims to not only help our neighbors experiencing food insecurity today, but to provide them with the resources to become self-sufficient for tomorrow. I am excited join a team of 50 employees and 1,400 volunteers whose mission is to “shorten the line” of those in our communities who are hungry.
The Monmouth County 200 Club will bestow its highest honor, the Valor Award, on six police officers today during their annual awards luncheon which is taking place at the Spring Lake Golf Club from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
“The 200 Club of Monmouth County is proud to recognize the outstanding achievements of first responders. Today, we honor more than 100 first responders for exemplary service to our community. Among them are six police officers receiving our highest honor, the Valor Award, in recognition of particularly exceptional bravery, putting their own lives at risk to save and protect others. They deserve, and have earned, our utmost respect and gratitude,” said Kim Guadagno, president of the club.
Of the six officers receiving the valor award, four are members of the Asbury Park Police Department.
Fulfill, formerly known as the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, announced today that former Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno will serve as the President and CEO of the organization starting on Monday, May 6.
“Our mission is driven by a desire to help those who have fallen on hard times,” said Jeremy Grunin, Chair of Fulfill’s Board of Trustees. “In searching for a new CEO, we wanted someone with an established history of charitable giving and involvement; extensive connections that could bring new resources to the organization; and who could help bring greater attention to Fulfill and its programs so we can serve as a model for other non-profits statewide. We have found that and more in Lieutenant Governor Guadagno.”
Former Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno today said Republicans have asked her to run for State Assembly in the 13th legislative district.
So far, Guadagno has politely turned down the overtures, citing family issues and her commitment to her job as a partner as at the Connell Foley law firm. “Too many non billable hours,” she said in a text when MMM raised the issue with her last month, “Thank you for thinking of me, but the timing is not good for me or my family.” She also said she would run if she won the lottery.
Josh Welle marching in Asbury Park with Sen Bob Menendez and Congressman Frank Pallone
NewJerseyGlobe is reporting that Josh Welle said he is considering as run for State Assembly in from the 13th Legislative district.
“It’s something I’m taking a look at,” Welle told the New Jersey Globe. “I’m going to take the next few weeks to see if that makes sense and see if it’s the best way for me to serve.”
Welle, who is registered to vote in Virginia, did not say if he would seek the Democrat or Republican nomination for Assembly. He’s been a registered Democrat for less than two years, declaring himself a D after he was turned down for a White House Fellowship in the Trump Administration in 2017. Shortly thereafter he started running for the Democrat nomination for Congress from New Jersey’s 4th district.
In an interview with Bill Spadea on NJ101.5 yesterday, former Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno said legalizing prostitution would be less harmful than legalizing recreational marijuana and that doing so would benefit the women who work in the world’s oldest profession.
“Now that I’m not running for office anymore, if they need revenue that badly, let’s legalize a victimless crime and tax it up the wazoo. What to I mean by that? Let’ legalize prostitution,” Guadagno said.
“It’s better for women cause they’ll get good medical care. We’ll cut off the middleman, if you know what I mean, and it’s between two consenting adults.”
The 200 Club of Monmouth County awarded $109,000 in college scholarships to 97 children of first responders last night during their annual gathering at Bar A in Lake Como. Each student is the dependent child of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder who resides and works full-time in Monmouth County.
