Scharfenberger in no rush to decide which office he will seek next year

Freeholder Gerry Scharfenberger takes the Oath of Office on Feb 3.

Freeholder Gerry Scharfenberger will be running for office again in 2019.  He will either seek his own full term on the Freeholder Board, having been elected to complete Assemblywoman Serena Dimaso’s term last month, or he will seek the Assembly seat being vacated by Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-Middletown).

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Welle mulls a run for Assembly in LD 13

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.

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Stephanie Murray resigns as Middletown Mayor

Stephanie Murray

Stephanie Murray resigned as mayor of Middletown Township this afternoon in a hand delivered letter to the Township Clerk.  Her resignation from the Township Committee is effective immediately, MMM has learned.

Murray cited her increased job responsibilities in her letter.  She became the part time Borough Administrator of West Long Branch last summer and was promoted to full time administrator earlier this year.

Once considered a rising star in Monmouth County political circles, Murray’s prospects for higher office took a hit in 2016 after the Asbury Park Press wrote an inaccurate and incomplete story about her family’s financial difficulties.  Never-the-less, Murray was overwhelmingly reelected by Middletown voters last November and was selected to serve as mayor this year by her colleagues on the Township Committee.

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Christie nominates Massell and Luttrell for Monmouth County Tax Board

Stephen Massell

Governor Chris Christie this afternoon announced the nominations of Stephen Massell of Middletown and Renee Luttrell of Holmdel to serve five year terms on the Monmouth County Tax Board.   If confirmed by the New Jersey Senate, Massell will fill the Republican seat on the Board currently held by Kathleen Cody Bjelka who term has expired.  Luttrell will take the Democratic seat vacated by the death of Thomas J. Byrne of Spring Lake.

Given the legislative calendar, neither nominee is likely to be confirmed until the lame duck session which starts in November. The State Legislature typically takes the summer off after passing the State Budget which is due by June 30th.  Given that all 120 seats in the legislature are up for election this year, members of the legislature are likely to spend the fall campaigning and not legislating.

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Massell Endorses O’Scanlon for Senate in LD 13

Declan O’Scanlon and Steve Massell

Middletown Township Committeeman Steve Massell today announced his endorsement of Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon to succeed Senator Joe Kyrillos as the senior legislator for northern Monmouth County’s 13th legislative district.

“As a lifelong resident of Monmouth County and having served these last 7 years on the Middletown Township Committee, I was not only saddened but concerned for the future of our county and state when I heard that Joe Kyrillos was retiring from the Senate,” Massell said.

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Report: Rich not running for re-election as Monmouth County Freeholder

Gary Rich

InsiderNJ.com is reporting that an anonymous Monmouth County source has said that Freeholder Gary Rich will not be running for re-election in November.

“Chairman Shaun Golden sat down with Rich last night to tell him the organization is going in another direction and Rich opted not to fight,” the site reported their source said.

MMM has confirmed that Golden and Rich met yesterday, but it is not clear if Golden is pushing Rich out or if the two term Freeholder is leaving on his own volition. Rich has been giving mixed signals about his intentions; he has told people he is running, but he has not raised any money nor attended any political events recently.   He has left at least two Freeholder meetings early since the first of the year.  Neither Golden or Rich have responded messages seeking confirmation of their meeting’s content and tone.

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Scharfenberger Sworn In As Middletown Mayor

Acting Governor Kim Guadagno administered the Oath of Office to Mayor Gerald Scharfenberger, PhD, on Sunday when the Middletown Township Committee reorganized for 2016.

Selected by his fellow members of the Township Committee, Scharfenberger replaces Stephanie Murray who served two terms as mayor through 2014 and 2015.  Scharfenberger praised the “spectacular job” Murray did as mayor and expressed his gratitude to her for what she taught him about leadership and public service.

Scharfenberger has been a member of the Township Committee since 2005 and previously served as mayor in 2007,2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013.

Guadagno swore in Committeeman Tony Fiore as Deputy Mayor and Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden administered the Oath to Committeeman Steve Massell who was elected to his third term on the Committee last November.

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Middletown Terminates Contract with Realty Data Services

Middletown, NJ- The Middletown Township Committee voted unanimously Monday night to terminate its contract with Realty Data Services, LLC,  the Shrewsbury based company which performs inspections and data collection for most Monmouth County towns under the pilot Assessment Demonstration Program (ADP).

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Middletown Launches New Website

Middletown Township launched its new website this morning.  The site, which works well on mobile devices as well as desktop/laptop computers, is sure to win even more accolades than the Township’s previous award winning site which set the standard for municipal governments communicating with residents and businesses.

Check it out. 

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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.

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