John Kaye: Vin Gopal and the Monmouth Democrats will “beat us over the head” if Golden is Chairman

By Art Gallagher

John Kaye

Former Monmouth County Prosecutor John Kaye, currently the President of the Monmouth County Affiliated Republican Club, wrote to the Republican County Committee members today to warn that Vin Gopal, the County Democrats and the press, will use Sheriff Shaun Golden’s “dual offices” as a campaign issue in the event he becomes Chairman.  Here’s a copy of Kaye’s letter.

Just as important as what John has done, is what he has not done – and that’s gift wrap a campaign issue for Vin Gopal and the County Democrats to beat us all over the head with. Unfortunately, I am concerned that is exactly what electing Shaun Golden to the dual offices of County Sheriff and County Republican Chairman will do.

Chairman Bennett called me on the day Golden announced he was running for Chairman and asked if I was going to “be fair with him this time.”  He felt my coverage of the 2012 Chairman’s race when I endorsed his opponent was unfair.   I told him I would be and I believe I have been.  Earlier this week I sat down separately with John and his daughter, Meghan Bennett Clark.  They both acknowledged that MMM’s coverage of the Chairman’s race has been fair.

So, if fairness, I have to say, the argument Kaye raises today in his letter to the County Committee is the same argument I raised against John Bennett being Chairman two years ago.  I argued that the Democrats and the press would have a field day with Bennett.  I argued that they would use Bennett’s record, pension and multiple public jobs to beat Monmouth County Republicans over the head.  It would be Club Monmouth all over again.

I was wrong.  It didn’t happen.

I don’t think it will happen this time either.  But if it does, both Bennett and Golden could both be vulnerable.

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Niemann Endorses Bennett, Says “You cannot be a Party Leader and an Elected Official”

Fred Niemann. Photo via ElderAbuseInNJ.com

Citing his personal experience on how difficult the job of Party Chairman is, former Monmouth Republican Chairman Fred Niemann issued an endorsement letter for John Bennett today.

Niemann served one term as Monmouth GOP Chair from 2004 -2006, a tumultuous time in the Party’s history that included the Operation Bid Rig arrests, raucous nominating conventions and the emergence of blogs and other new media.

While praising both Bennett and his opponent for Chairman, Sheriff Shaun Golden, Niemann argued that an elected official can not manage the conflicts or make the tough decisions a Chairman must make.

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DiSomma Staying Out of Chairman’s Race

Sean DiSomma, the heir apparent to Jack Minton as Chairman of the Red Bank Republicans, told MMM that he is staying out of the dueling endorsements contest that the Monmouth County Republican Chairman’s race has become.  “I spoke with both Chairman Bennett and Sheriff Golden,” DiSomma said, “both expressed their commitment  to supporting Republicans in Red Bank.”

Minton endorsed John Bennett for Chairman earlier this week.

Red Bank might not be 100% in Bennett’s camp.  “I spoke to Republicans on both sides and asked them to help me fill the vacancies on the County Committee with people who want to be involved,” DiSomma said.   As of the primary on Tuesday night, 7 of the 18 Red Bank Republican County Committee seats are vacant.

Vacancies can be filled via appointment by a municipal chairperson.  In order for a County Committee member who was not elected in the primary to be eligible to vote at the GOP County Convention next Tuesday, the municipal chairperson for each town must submit a list of appointees to Bertha Sumick, the Monmouth County Clerk of Elections, no later than  4:30PM on Tuesday. Each appointee’s qualifications (residency and affiliation) will be verified before voting credentials are issued.

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Backlash from Bennett’s “Endorsement”

Eatontown Councilman Richard “Duke” Robinson, the Eatontown GOP Chairman, Sheriff Shaun Golden and Councilman Kevin Gonzalez. Photo via EatontownGOP.com

Monmouth GOP Chairman John Bennett was apparently too enthusiastic in his use of language in the endorsement released yesterday from Republican leaders from Rumson, Shrewsbury Township, Eatontown, Oceanport, Red Bank and Tinton Falls.  In addition to the endorsement letter released to MMM, Bennett posted comments on his facebook page and in a email to County Committee Members to the effect that he had picked up the support of  “7 towns in the 2 Rivers area…. “

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Pomanowski Endorses Golden For Chairman

photo via facebook

By Wayne Pomanowski

While there is no shortage of charges rumbling through Monmouth County political circles one can easily get bogged down in what the issue of this chairman’s election is all about. While I was President of The Affiliated Republican Club, I learned many things about heading up a political organization. There are four questions any county committee person is faced with.

Who has the talent to raise money?
Who has peacemaking ability to unify the party?
Who has the enthusiasm to grow the grassroots in each and every town in Monmouth County?
Who has the tactical skill to out think our Democratic counterparts?

If we look at the number of county committee seats – 204 are now empty.  The Affiliated Club is down in membership from close to 600 to over 200. The County Republican treasury alleged to having raised $700,000, ended the year with just over $4,000 on hand. And, here are the sad statistics – Registered Republicans in Monmouth County 96,820; Registered Democrats 99,820.

John Bennett is a fine man who has served his party; he is part of our rich past. As many of you know I have always poured my heart and soul into this party to keep this county Republican. I take nothing from John Bennett.
I am supporting Shaun Golden. Shaun will make a fine chairman and is part of our bright future.

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Keyport Republicans Endorse Golden For Chairman

In the race for Monmouth GOP Chairman, Sheriff Shaun Golden picked up the endorsement of the Keyport Republican Committee over the weekend.

Keyport Republicans at the 2014 Lincoln Day Dinner. Photo via facebook

In a letter dated May 30 and released this morning, Bob Burlew, GOP Chairman of The Pearl of the Bayshore, wrote,

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Another endorsement for Bennett

A group of Republican leaders from the Two Rivers (Navesink and Shrewsbury) area of Monmmouth County have released their endorsement for John O. Bennett to serve another two years as Chairman of the Monmouth County Republican Organization.

Rumson Mayor John Ekdahl, Oceanport Mayor Michael Mahon and the GOP Municipal Chairs of Eatontown, Little Silver, Red Bank, Shrewsbury Township and Tinton Falls issued a press release endorsing Bennett.  Mahon’s name is listed as the GOP Chairman of Oceanport, not as mayor of the borough where Bennett serves and Administrator.

We, as chosen Republican leaders in our respected (sic) towns, are supporting Chairman John Bennett for a second term as Monmouth County Republican Committee Chairman.

Our Party, over the past two years, has seen a resurgence of support and stability through the leadership of Chairman Bennett. Republican candidates from all levels of our government in the county have been able to capitalize on the benefits presented to them by his steadfast and dedicated work.

We believe that Chairman John Bennett and his proven track-record of success is exactly what our party needs to continue its growth. Whether it is raising funds or rallying support for our local municipal elections, Chairman Bennett has been nothing short of reliable in his support.
Now it is our turn to return the favor for the Chairman for all of the hard work he has done for us.
Please stand with us to re-elect John Bennett as Chairman of the Monmouth County Republican Party and continue the growth of our party.

Ekdahl is a pick up for Benentt. He was previously in Sheriff Shaun Golden’s corner for Chairman.

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Holmdel Mayor and Town Leaders Supporting Shaun Golden for GOP Chair

 

Holmdel Mayor Pat Impreveduto

Mayor Patrick Impreveduto, Deputy Mayor Eric Hinds, Township Committeeman Greg Buontempo, Joe Ponisi and Municipal Chairwoman Marcy McMullin and Vice Chairman Tom Scarano, are supporting Shaun Golden for Monmouth county Republican Chairman

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Promises Made, Promises Kept

An Open Letter to the Monmouth County Republican Committee From Chairman John O. Bennett

Dear County Committee Member,

The success of a Republican Chairman in Monmouth County has always been ultimately measured by one thing –Being victorious on the first Tuesday in November!

To that end, during the last two election cycles, we – Vice-Chairwoman Susan Cohen and our hardworking volunteers like you – have helped our countywide candidates score resounding victories that have helped the Monmouth County Republican Party restore its brand as one of the state’s best Republican organizations.

Along the way, we have delivered on every promise made during our campaign two years ago:

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Manalapan Elected Officials Stand With Bennett

The four of the five members of Manalapan’s Township Committee, all Republicans, endorsed Monmouth County Republican Chairman John O. Bennett III for a second term as Chairman yesterday.

In a statement released by Bennett which can be found here, the Mayor Jordan Maskowitz, Deputy Mayor Jack McNaboe, and Committee Members Mary Ann Musich and Susan Cohen, the MCGOP Vice Chairwoman, said:

It is a great honor to stand with John O. Bennett in his campaign to seek a second term as Chairman and Vice-Chairwoman, respectively. The bottom line is that John Bennett has kept all of his campaign promises from two years ago, and the Monmouth County Republican Party is stronger today than it was then.
John’s first promise when running two years ago was to implement a new set of by-laws and move to a convention system when selecting candidates in order to make the entire process more democratic. John has done this, and now County Committee members select our organization’s candidates, not political bosses in the back room.

Manalapan Township Committee Members Mary Ann Musich, Deputy Mayor Jack McNaboe, Mayor Jordan Maskowitz, Susan Cohen and Ryan Green

John also pledged to put in place a Board of Directors to meet and advise the Chairman, and he has met this promise as well. Now, Republican representatives from all over the county have a direct say in the County Party. He also promised to keep our County Party headquarters open and staffed full time, and has done this. The County Party headquarters has been an invaluable resource for Manalapan Township. Last year at the headquarters, our campaign volunteers made phone calls into Manalapan every Monday night on behalf of Governor Christie, our County candidates, and our local Township Committee candidates.

We encourage County Committee members not just of Manalapan, but all of Monmouth County to vote for JohnO. Bennett, a proven leader and party builder, at the June 10th Chairman’s Convention. Thank you.

The fifth Republican on the Township Committee, Ryan Green, has ostracized himself from his colleagues because he wasn’t selected to be Mayor. Maskowtiz has called for Green’s resignation and Manalapan GOP Chairman Steve McEnery likened Green to Edward Snowden while calling him a petulant pipsqueak. 

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