Former Monmouth Democratic Chairman Victor Scudiery
Former Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Victor Scudiery told MMM that he thinks his party’s nominees for freeholder and county surrogate should resign their candidacies and let the new Chairman, Vin Gopal, and the Democratic County Committee select new candidates.
The freeholder candidates, former Hazlet Mayor Kevin Lavan and former State Trooper William Shea, along with surrogate nominee Michael Steinhorn, all supported Gopal’s opponent, Marlboro Council President Frank LaRocca, in last month’s Chairman’s race. Gopal won the chairmanship with over 70% of the vote, over 80% excluding Marlboro.
“I don’t know why they did that (took a position in the Chairman’s race),” said Scudiery, “LaRocca must have promised them something. I don’t see how the rank and file supports them now.”
Based upon the voting results of the two Monmouth County political conventions that occurred on Tuesday evening, it would appear that the Monmouth Democratic Organization is united and the Monmouth Republican Organization is divided.
Vin Gopal’s margin of victory in the Democratic Chairman’s race was 73%-27%. John Bennett scored a 50.24%-49.75% victory in the Republican race.
Both parties had extraordinarily high turnouts with over 600 committee members voting. For a county party that has had no electoral success in recent years, the record turnout for the Democrats was an impressive showing.
But all is not rosy for the Democrats. Among Gopal’s minority opponents are his 3 county level candidates, Michael Steinhorn running for County Clerk and Freeholder candidates Bill Shea and Kevin Lavan. Gopal, Steinhorn, Shea and Lavan were all general election candidates last year. Gopal was an Assembly candidate in the 11th district. Steinhorn and Shea were county level candidates, and Lavan was an Assembly candidate in the 13th district. The divide is reportedly over Gopal’s relative (they all lost) success. He raised more money, got more press and came closer to winning than Steinhorn, Shea and Lavan did in 2011.
Vin Gopal is the new Chairman of the Monmouth County Democrats.
Gopal won 73% of the Democratic County Committee votes with 434 votes to Marlboro Council President Frank LaRocca’s 169 votes.
Sources told MMM that when word that John Bennett had won the Monmouth GOP Chairmanship reached the Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands, the Democratic crowd erupted in celebration.
Michael Dupont. Photo Credit: NJ Turnpike Authority
Red Bank Councilman Michael DuPont differs with his fellow Red Bank Democrats over who should be the next Monmouth County Democratic Chairman.
In his press release this morning that listed “over 100 endorsements” Vin Gopal had a special section for Red Bank:
“As Democratic leaders in Red Bank, we proudly support Vin Gopal as the next county Democratic Chairman. Vin has supported Democrats in Red Bank for years, helping us raise money and helping us organize our campaigns. He would make an outstanding chairman and we plan to inform the Red Bank delegation about our support.”
Red Bank Democratic Party Municipal Chairman & Councilman Ed Zipprich Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna
Red Bank Council President Art Murphy
Red Bank Councilwoman Kathy Horgan
Red Bank Councilwoman Juanita Lewis
Red Bank Councilwoman Sharon Lee Red Bank Democrats Vice Chairwoman Lauren Niccosia
Red Bank Democratic Club President Barbara Boas Red Bank Democratic Club Secretary Deborah Marks
DuPont’s name is prominent in it’s omission.
When contacted by MMM DuPont was unaware of Gopal’s announcement or of his fellow Red Bank Dems’ endorsement. “Have these all been verified?” DuPont asked. MMM has not verified the endorsements.
DuPont said he is supporting Marlboro Council President Frank LaRocca for Chairman.
“LaRocca’s experience and ability to raise funds throughout the state make him the best candidate for Chairman,” said Dupont, “What Vin Gopal brings with his energy is more than made up for by LaRocca’s experience and fundraising skills.”
The councilman, who is also Treasurer of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, emphasized that the chairman’s election is four months away, implying that Gopal’s support might not hold up over time.
Marlboro Councilman Frank LaRocca and businessman Vin Gopal, an Assembly candidate from the 11th legislative district last month, are building their alliances and working the phones. LaRocca is the law partner of Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornick. Gopal, a business partner of Scudiery. Hornick, considered a Democratic rising star statewide, is all in for his political and business partner as they seek to build an organization to propel the young mayor into higher office. Scudiery is officially neutral.
During Scudiery’s two decade tenure as chairman he has fought against the state Democratic organization bringing “outsiders” in to fill appointments in the county. Perhaps the most notable example is the Monmouth Prosecutor’s job in 2005. Acting Governor Richard Codey nominated Essex County resident Luis Valentin to succeed Republican John Kaye who had held the job for 21 years. Scudiery objected, wanting the job to go to Monmouth resident Allan Falk. Scudiery asked State Senator Joe Palaia, a Republican, to block Valentin’s appointment via senatorial courtesy. Palaia stayed out of the Democratic family feud, but Trenton Democrats responded by sending U.S. Senator/gubernatorial candidate Jon Corzine and Congressman Frank Pallone to Airport Plaza to demand that Scudiery step down as chairman. He didn’t.
LaRocca and Hornick, “LaHornicca,” are seen to be allied with the Trenton Democratic establishment. They have strong ties to State Democratic Chairman John Wisniewski. Democratic legal powerhouse, DeCotiis, FitzPatrick and Cole, of Teaneck, are the Marlboro borough attorneys.
Gopal, despite having a statewide network of his own, including a close alliance with Newark Mayor Cory Booker, is seen to represent local interests. During his Assembly campaign he expressed a commitment to building a homegrown Democratic organization.
Alliances in the chairman’s race are breaking along similar lines. Middletown Democratic Chair Joe Caliendo is backing Gopal. Caliendo and Howell Democratic Chair Steve Morlino often align their forces, creating an insurmountable voting block. If that alliance stands, Gopal will likely win.
“LaHornicca” has the support of former Red Bank Mayor Ed McKenna, who challenged Scudiery in 2000. McKenna’s law partner, Michael DuPont is also in the “LaHornicca” camp. DuPont is the treasurer of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. DeCotiis is the law firm for the Turnpike Authority.
However, the Red Bank Democrats are split. Ed Zipprich, the municipal chairman and a councilman supports Gopal.
Democratic campaign and media consultants Pat Politano, of Union County, and Jon Evans of Morris County, famous in Monmouth County for running Brian Unger’s Long Branch mayoral campaign in 2010, are supporting “LaHornicca.” Politano is closely aligned with former State Democratic Chairman Joe Cryan, a Union County Assemblyman and Undersheriff, and with Cryan’s running mate, Senator Ray Lesniak.
As hard as Gopal and “LaHornicca” are working on building their alliances with current municipal chairs and committee members, most of the voters may not yet be identified. The entire county committee, of both parties, is up for election in the June 5, 2012 primary. The current Monmouth County Democratic Committee has over 400 vacancies. The team that gets candidates to run for those empty seats could control the Monmouth Democratic Organization through June of 2014.
Throughout the spring and summer the conventional wisdom has been that the Monmouth GOP will not face serious challenges in legislative and county races of 2011. 2011 is supposed to be a “good Republican year.”
It still could turn out that way. Probably will. But MMM has learned that the Democrats think they have unexpected opportunities.
On the legislative level, the Trenton Democratic machine has taken interest in the new 11th district.
Back in April after the new legislative map was released the Democrats were scrambling to field a slate of candidates. No Democratic elected officials would challenge Republican incumbents Senator Jennifer Beck or Assemblywomen Caroline Casagrande and Mary Pat Angelini. Now the Democrats think the 11th is in play and will dedicate financial and human resources to elect Ray Santiago to the Senate and Marilyn Schlossbach and Vin Gopal to the Assembly.
Both sides fear that Independent Assembly candidate Dan Jacobson will draw votes away from them and could end up being a spoiler. In his column in last week’s triCityNews, Jacobson said that he expected to take votes from both sides and that he would need 20% of the voters to cast an uninformed protest vote for him in order to win a seat. Jacobson said he expects Beck, Casagrande and Angelini to prevail in November.
On the county level, the Democrats are planning a character assassination on Freeholder Lillian Burry. They will allege conflicts of interest on Burry’s part going back to her tenure as Mayor of Colts Neck and continuing in Freehold.
Now that the Monmouth Democrats don’t have a candidate officially running for Senate in the 13th district, maybe they should take a page from the Burlington County Democrats and get a celebrity to run. In case you missed it, former Olympian and former music video star Carl Lewis is running for Senate as a Democrat in the 8th legislative district.
As much as I would like to see Tea Party Democrat Mark Falzon muck up the works by waging a write in campaign for the 13th Democratic Senate nod, the district has numerous celebrity residents that would make terrible candidates but be great for blog traffic.
Bruce Springsteen has recently become a policy wonk. The anti-poverty activist has estates in Rumson and Colts Neck. If he’s registered to vote in Rumson he can run in the 13th. If Bruce is registered to vote in Colts Neck, we’ll know who the third vote is for Democratic Township Committee candidate, our friend Rick Ambrosia, is in November.
Film maker Kevin Smith hails from Highlands.
Drummer and real estate developer Max Weinberg was a trustee of the Monmouth Conservation Foundation before subdividing his Middletown estate.
Is there no liberal hypocrite willing to challenge Kyrillos?
The Monmouth County Democratic Organization will hold a “mini-convention” tomorrow at the Carpenters Union Hall in Red Bank for the purpose of nominating county and state legislative candidates for the June primary election.
One reader asked me today, “How come the Democrats are so good at keeping a lid on who their potential candidates are and everyone knows who the Republican players are?”
The answer is two fold: 1) The Democrats have been having a difficult time recruiting candidates. They don’t have a deep bench of elected officials on the municipal level in Monmouth County. 2) Unlike the GOP that has incumbent legislators we knew were going to run regardless of how the new map was drawn, the Democrats have only had since Sunday to determine who lives in what district and if any of the districts are competitive.
Based upon numerous conversations with Monmouth Democrats who will never talk to me again if I name them, the contenders for the various nominations are as follows:
Surrogate: Little Silver Councilman Daniel O’Hern, Jr is the most prominent name mentioned. O’Hern is the son of the former State Supreme Court Justice. He is the Red Bank Borough Attorney and former Middletown Township Committeeman Sean Byrnes law partner.
Freehold Township Attorney Ray Santiago’s name has been mentioned for Surrogate, as has Lake Como Councilman Brian Wilton. Wilton’s name has also been mentioned for Freeholder.
Freeholder: Incumbent Freeholder Amy Mallet will be nominated. William Shea of Howell, a 32 year old State Trooper who is retiring on June 1st has emerged as the front runner to be Mallet’s running mate.
11th Legislative District: Many Democrats think this district, which includes Neptune Township, Asbury Park, Long Branch and Red Bank, is competitive. This is where the action has been for Democrats this week as potential candidates lobby delegates for the chance to challenge Senator Jennifer Beck and Assemblywomen Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande in the general election.
For Senate, former Assemblyman Michael Panter is in the running. Amy Quinn of Asbury Park, the County Vice-Chair and municipal chair is gathering support, as is Asbury Park Mayor Ed Johnson.
Red Bank Councilman Michael Dupont and Freehold Borough Councilman Jay Sims are also in the mix for Senate.
For Assembly, Kevin McMillan, Randy Bishop and Jason Jones, all of Neptune Township are in the mix, as is Red Bank Councilwoman Sharon Lee and Santiago of Freehold Township. Vin Gopal of Long Branch is considering a bid.
12th Legislative District: As busy as the Democrats are the the 11th is as quiet as they are the the 12th. As of this writing, the Monmouth Dems might let the Ocean and Middlesex Democrats nominate the candidates for this district.
13th Legislative District. No one wants to run against Joe Kyrillos for Senate, but some Democrats are trying to coax former Judge, Senator, Freeholder and Parole Board Chairman John D’Amico of Oceanport to come out of retirement one more time.
For Assembly in the 13th, former Hazlet Mayor Kevin Lavan and Atlantic Highlands Councilman Roy Dellosso are the likely nominees to challenge GOP incumbents Amy Handlin and Declan O’Scanlon.
The 30th Legislative District is the only slate that is settled for the Democrats. Steve Morlino of Howell Township will be making yet another run against Senator Robert Singer. Rabbi Howard Kleinhendler, who ran against Chris Smith for Congress last year will run for Assembly. Point Pleasant Borough Councilman Shaun O’Rourke will complete the Assembly ticket in the 30th.
Monmouth County Democrats are getting to work early in defending their only remaining Freeholder seat.
Last night at the Bella Vista Country Club in Marlboro, Democratic Freeholder Amy Mallet held a campaign kickoff/fundraiser hosted by Vin Gopal, co-owner of Communtiy Publications, and co-hosted by Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornick, County Chairman Vic Scudiery, and former Freeholder John D’Amico. Middlesex County Senator Barbara Buono, a potential 2013 gubernatorial candidate, was the Special Guest Speaker.
Gopal announced that the event raised over $10,000.
Mallet and Republican Freeholder Lillian Burry are both up for reelection this fall.
Burry opened a facebook page on Tuesday and is hoping to have 50 fans by the end of the week. As of 10:30 this morning she has 17 fans. I think MMM readers can produce 100 fans for Burry by the end of the day today. Click here and “Like Lillian“.
