Manalapan and Freehold Township GOP Chairs Raise Ethical Questions About Golden Serving As Sheriff and GOP County Chairman Simultaniously

Golden welcomes Ethics Debate with Bennett

Freehold Township GOP Chairman Anthony Graziano

The municipal Republican Chairmen of Manalapan and Freehold have raise ethical questions about the prospect of Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden serving as both Sheriff an d as the Chairman of the Monmouth County Republican Organization.

In a letter addressed to County Committee Members and sent to MMM, Steve McEnery, Chair of the Manalapan GOP and Anthony Graziano, Chair of the Freehold Township Republicans, raise questions about Golden’s ability to comply with New Jersey’s Local Governments Ethics Law, NJ 40A:9-22.5, unless he has received an advisory opinion from the Local Finance Board in the Department of Community Affairs.  The letter can be viewed here.

The chairmen challenged Golden to release the advisory opinion demonstrating the permissibility of him serving in both offices or explain to County Committee Members why he did not engage in simple due diligence if he did not receive such an opinion.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Wall Elected Officials Back Golden

Shaun Golden

Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden has picked up the endorsements of the elected officials from a third large municipality in his quest to replace John O. Bennett III as the Chairman of the Monmouth County Republican Organization.

Mayor Clint Hoffman, Deputy Mayor George Newberry and Township Committee Members Ann Marie Conte, Jeff Foster and Todd Luttman, the entire governing body of Wall Township, signed a letter on Wall Township Republican Organization letterhead and addressed to Monmouth County Republicans today, strongly endorsing Golden for Chairman.  Their letter can be found here.

The Wall governing body joins the elected officials of Middletown and Howell in supporting Golden.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Golden: Passion and pride, not personal gain, will grow the Monmouth GOP

Sheriff Shaun Golden

Speaking at the first of three breakfast meetings he has scheduled for Monmouth Republican County Committee members, Sheriff Shaun Golden said this morning that he started to considering seeking the Monmouth GOP Chairmanship over a year ago, even if it meant challenging incumbent John Bennett, because of the decline of participation and enthusiasm he observed as he attended Republican events across the county.

“We have over 200 vacant county committee seats,” Golden declared, “that’s nearly an all time high.  That’s our base that’s shrinking.”

Golden said that he would bring back monthly breakfast meetings, scheduled regionally, fill the vacant county committee seats and and bring new growth the Republican Clubs in the Monmouth County municipalities.

“Communication is the key to growth and new enthusiasm.  We can’t update our website and email newsletters only before a Chairman’s election. It is embarrassing that our 2013 candidates were featured on our site until just recently.  Our opponents see that.   We need to increase our use of electronic communication, our website, email and social media to increase our base, expand participation and get our great message out. We need to communicate and reach out constantly, not just before a convention.”

“I am passionate about our Party.  It is passion and pride that will have us grow, not personal gain.  I have nothing to gain personally, I won’t make more money by doing this,” Golden said.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Bennett’s Undetered By Golden’s Endorsements

John Bennett

Monmouth County Republican Chairman John Bennett told MMM that he continues to be upbeat and positive about his chances for reelection on June 10, despite the endorsements of the municipal elected officials in Middletown and Howell going to his opponent in the GOP Chairman’s race, Sheriff Shaun Golden.

“Those were elected officials, not county committee members or municipal chairmen,” Bennett said, “I expect to get quite a few county committee votes from those towns. Those endorsements were not surprising to me.”

The chairman said he expected a similar endorsement for Golden to come out of Wall Township. “Its not over until its over,”he said,  “I am remaining upbeat and positive. I’m keeping the campaign positive and I hope the other side does as well.”

Wall Township Municipal Chairwomen Mary DeSarno declined to comment.

Bennett said one of the elected officials who endorsed Golden told him that he/she was unaware Bennett was running for reelection when the Golden endorsement was made.

• Tweet

Pezzullo Backs Bennett

Rich Pezzullo

The last man who challenged an incumbent John Bennett is sticking with the Monmouth County Republican Chairman in his race against Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden.

Rich Pezzullo, a candidate for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate in the June 3 primary, told Save Jersey that he’s all in for Bennett to continue to lead the Monmouth GOP.

“He is the Republican in Monmouth county who has known me as a political figure the longest – almost 20 years,” Pezzullo told Save Jersey on Thursday. “He’s set a good example for me as a professional, politician and organizer. I’ve seen him in his roles as a political opponent and political partner. I’ve known him as he grieved the loss of his father, gave his daughters off to marriage and celebrated the birth of his grandchildren. It would be hard to have so much respect for a person and entertain the thought of not supporting him when his record is full of committed service, personal sacrifice and genuine accomplishments.”

Pezzullo, of Freehold, challenged Bennett in the GOP primary for State Senate in 2003 in what was then the 12th legislative district.  Bennett was the Senate Co-President with Senator Richard Cody in the 20-20 Senate during the first two years of the McGreevey Administration.   Bennett spent $350,000 to beat back Pezzullo’s challenge and the Asbury Park Press, which made Bennett’s $8,000 billing error as Marlboro Township Attorney and nepotism in his legislative office front page news for months.

Bennett prevailed against Pezzullo in the 2003 primary but lost his Senate seat to Ellen Karcher, then Marlboro’s Council President, that November and the GOP lost their equal footing with the Democrats in the Senate.

Pezzullo has the Monmouth County Republican line in his U.S. Senate primary race against Jeff Bell, Brian Goldberg and Murray Sabrin.

• Tweet

Bennett and Golden pledge positive campaign

John Bennett and Shaun Golden kicked off their respective campaigns for the Monmouth GOP Chairmanship last week on a positive note and each man said he wants a positive campaign.

Sheriff Shaun Golden

Golden, the Monmouth County Sheriff, is challenging the incumbent Bennett for the opportunity to lead the Monmouth County Republican Committee for the next two years.  The election will take place on June 10 at iPlayAmerica in Freehold.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Middletown Officials Backing Golden For Chairman

All five members of the Middletown Township Committee have announced that they are backing Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden in his bid to replace John O. Bennett III as Chairman of the Monmouth County Republican Organization.

Front, Mayor Stephanie Murray and Deputy Mayor Kevin Settembrino. Rear, Committeemen Tony Fiore, Gerry Scharfenberger and Steve Massell. Photo via MiddletownNJ.org

Mayor Stephanie Murray, Deputy Mayor Kevin Settembrino, and Committee Members Gerry Scharfenberger, Stephen Massell and Tony Fiore, all Republicans, issued a statement through Fiore .

“Sheriff Golden will bring a new energy to our Party and make us even stronger in delivering the best and most efficient county and municipal governments in New Jersey to the people of Monmouth County.

“Shaun has demonstrated a commitment to excellence and innovation while improving the performance of the Sheriff’s Office and controlling costs to the taxpayers on both the county and municipal levels.  We believe his leadership and executive skills will greatly serve Monmouth County residents in a political capacity as well.

“Shaun will move our party forward and is the best person to heal any fractures that have occurred over the years.

“We appreciate the good job that Chairman Bennett has done during his term, but now, we face new challenges as elected officials and political leaders.  We can’t afford to rest on our laurels, but must move forward with fresh eyes and with a renewed commitment to improve our performance for the people we represent and serve.”

Fiore told MMM that the committee members were speaking for themselves, not for the Middletown Republican Organization.  Middletown GOP Chairman Peter Carton is aware of their endorsement, but has yet to speak with Golden or Bennett, Fiore said.

• Tweet

Sheriff Shaun Golden is running for Monmouth GOP Chairman

UPDATED 10:14 am

Sheriff Shaun Golden

Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden will seek the Monmouth County Republican Chairmanship when the party convenes to elect a chairman on June 10.

Incumbent Chairman John O. Bennett III said he is running for reelection.

“Shaun’s a good man and a good sheriff,” Bennett said. “I’ve always thought that elected officials should be elected officials and chairmen should be chairmen.  I think Shaun should focus on being sheriff.  We live in a Democracy.  The committee will decide.”

“It’s a race,” Golden said, “we need to get our party moving forward.”

The two men met for breakfast this morning.  Golden informed Bennett that he was running and asked for a smooth transition.

Golden told MMM that he would be releasing a formal statement and sending a letter to members of the Republican County Committee later today.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Cullari Considering Congressional Bid

Ernesto Cullari of Asbury Park said that if he can raise $30,000 in thirty days he will seek the Republican nomination to challenge Congressman Frank Pallone at the Monmouth and Middlesex Republican nominating conventions on March 22.

The conservative Justified Right columnist for the triCityNews was the Monmouth GOP endorsed candidate in the 2012 6th district primary which he lost for former Highlands Mayor Anna Little who was tabbed by the Middlesex GOP.

Cullari said that he had hoped that Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden had run against Pallone. “Shaun is a great elected official and public servant. He was the candidate who could really have taken it to Pallone, ” Cullari said, “now that Shaun has said he is not running, I am taking a serious look at doing it. If I can raise $1000 per day for a month, I’m in.”

“I want to fight for my county.  I’m too old for military service, but I would run against Pallone as if I were protecting our freedom, because I believe that ultimately that is what is a stake given what is going on in Washington.”

Cullari said he would file a statement of organization with the Federal Election Commission this week and start calling his supporters for donations.

• Tweet

Golden Not Running Against Pallone

Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden

Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden told MMM that he will not be a candidate for Congress this year.

Monmouth County Republican Chairman John Bennett has been urging Golden to take on Congressman Frank Pallone due to the sheriff’s strong record of accomplishment and his popularity at the polls.

“I would love to see Shaun Golden run for Congress, ” Bennett said earlier this month, ‘Not only is he popular and a demonstrated vote getter, he has an outstanding record with a documented ability to get things done.”

Golden said that it is just not the right time for him to take on a congressional campaign.

Former Howell Mayor Joe DiBella said last week that he “would love to run against Pallone” if Golden doesn’t. Bennett told MMM that he received a message from DiBella expressing his interest. DiBella has not returned several phone calls inquiring about his candidacy from MMM this week.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet