Former Congressional candidate is seeking Democratic nomination for Freeholder. Democrats still looking to fill their Monmouth County slate
Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden, Freeholder Director Tom Arnone and Deputy Freeholder Director Serena DiMaso announced yesterday that they are seeking the Republican nomination for their offices and re-election as a team. There is no known opposition to the incumbents for the GOP nomination. The party will award the organization’s “line” for the June primary at its nomination convention on March 23.
Freeholder Director Tom Arnone, Deputy Director Serena DiMaso and Sheriff Shaun Golden
In a joint statement the team cited the county’s reduced spending, its response to Superstorm Sandy, and the positive business climate as the accomplishments of their first terms. Golden and Arnone are completing their first full term in office. DiMaso was elected by the Republican County Commitee in January of 2012 to fill Assemblyman Rob Clifton’s seat when Clifton moved to the Assembly. She was elected by the voters last November to complete the term.
On Tuesday, from 9am to 5pm, Governor Christie’s Office will be holding a “Mobile Cabinet” at the Union Beach Hose Company 1 located at 1224 Florence Avenue. We will have staff from multiple departments of state government and FEMA that can assist with your insurance issues, help answer questions about flood maps or any other issue related to recovery and rebuilding after Superstorm Sandy. This is a great opportunity to help you, your family, and neighbors on the road to recovery.
Ocean County GOP Chairman Geroge Gilmore is among a handful of connected lobbyists hired by AshBrit, the Florida company that won the sole state contract for Superstorm Sandy clean up, who was making sales calls to municipal officials looking for lucrative non-bid clean up work after then storm, according to an article in The Star Ledger this morning.
MMM was the first to report that former Corzine staffer Maggie Moran and her firm, M Public Affairs, was selling AshBrit’s premium priced services to Sandy ravaged municipalities. The Ledger report expands the list of lobbyists working for AshBrit in New Jersey to Gilmore, former Corzine cabinet member Kris Kullari, and former Assembly Republican director Jon Bombardieri.
AshBrit has been widely praised for the quality of the clean up work it hired subcontractors to perform. Their no-bid pricing is the issue. AshBrit charged $100 per ton for debris removal. Towns that didn’t hire AshBrit got the work done for $26 per ton.
“If this isn’t a classic example of how everything is connected in New Jersey politics, I don’t know what is,” said state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), who was Corzine’s running mate in 2009 when Moran managed his re-election campaign.
MMM is generally not a fan of Weinberg, but we are with her on this issue. Excess profits paid to AshBrit for making phone calls and signing contracts could have been used to rebuild infrastructure, house the displaced, etc, or not borrowed from China in the first place.
January is closing in and February is fast upon us. Good news for the survivors of Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey. You now have until March 1, 2013, to register for disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Monmouth County residents as well as all residents in New Jersey can register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smart phone or tablet at m.fema.gov. Registration is also available by calling 800-621-3362. The toll free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week. The deadline was extended one month at the request of the State of New Jersey. Through Wednesday, January 23rd, more than 57,500 storm survivors have been approved for help through FEMA’s Individual Assistance program in New Jersey. FEMA disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance. Additionally, the Small Business Association has also set March 1st as the date for homeowners, renters and business owners to complete and return SBA disaster loan applications. Visit www.sba.gov for more information. SBA’s Disaster Assistance Program provides long term, low interest loans to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes.
Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande announced their bids for re-election to the New Jersey legislature. The three legislators represent the 11th Legislative District in Monmouth County.
“I am very proud and excited to start another campaign season,” said Beck, who was first elected to the Assembly in 2005 and moved to the Senate in 2007. “We have an incredible ticket and I am honored to serve with these women. In the past two years New Jersey has seen some amazing and historic reforms, but our job is not done. I hope the voters in the 11th District will choose to send us back to Trenton in 2014 to continue what we started.”
Beck, Angelini and Casagrande were first elected as a ticket to the 11th District in 2011. Beck, a former Red Bank Councilwoman, currently sits on the Senate Budget Committee, Casagrande, an attorney, sits on the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Angelini, the Executive Director of Prevention First, serves as the Deputy Conference Leader and sits on the Health and Senior Services Committee.
“Under the direction of Governor Chris Christie we have made great progress in reducing the cost of government which has made our state increasingly unaffordable,” Angelini said. “I look forward to going back to Trenton to continue fighting to improve our economy, reduce spending and cut taxes”
“All three of us have had a tremendous four years following Governor Christie’s leadership and delivering results to the people of Monmouth County. But our work is far from over,” explained Casagrande. “I am proud to declare my candidacy for re-election to the 11th District Assembly. It is my hope that the people will honor me with the opportunity to keep moving New Jersey forward.”
Former Monmouth County Prosecutor John Kaye is the new president of the Monmouth County Affiliated Republican Club.
Kaye takes over from Wayne Pomanowski who served as president for the maximum two years allowed by the club’s bylaws. 1st Vice President Gerri Popkin and 2nd Vice President Bob Burlew were unable to step up to the presidency due to other obligations. Howell Chairman John Costigan, the club Sergeant-At-Arms, declined the post because he is running to replace Monmouth GOP Chairman John Bennett on the GOP State Committee. Pomanowski said he suggested Kaye to Bennett.
Bennett said that Kaye was the unanimous choice of the club’s trustees at their January meeting. All other officers, except Pomanowski, retained their previous club offices. Pomanowski remains on the board.
The choice struck me as odd given 1) the wealth of up and coming talent in the Monmouth GOP and 2) Kaye’s rocky historical relationship with Govenor Chris Christie including the controversy surrounding Kaye towards the end of his distinguished 23 year career as Monmouth County Prosecutor.
Carol Mazzola, right, with Selika Josiah Gore and Kim Guadagno during their 2009 campaign. facebook photo
Marlboro Councilwoman Carol Mazzola met with Monmouth County Republican Chairman John Bennett prior to announcing her to run for reelection as a Democrat this fall. Mayor Jon Hornik was present at the meeting which took place in Freehold.
Mazzola told MoreMonmouthMusings that she met with Bennett out of respect for the chairman for whom she has great admiration. She said that Bennett attempted to pursuade her not to switch partys, but that her mind was already made upInflatable Slide.
The councilwoman, who is seeking her second term on the Marlboro Council, said she’s been struggling with the decision for many months. “In the end, I know I made the right decision for myself and for the citizens of Marlboro,” she said, “win lose or draw, I know I did the right thing.”
Gannett has listed The Asbury Park Press headquarters in Neptune for sale. The price of the 24,000 square foot facility is not disclosed.
APP explained that the move is part of its “ongoing strategic transformation” and that they plan to lease space in the Monmouth/Ocean area.
“We’re excited about the opportunity this presents,” said President and Publisher Tom Donovan. “We are beginning the search for new space where we will continue to pursue great journalism and work for the greater good of our communities while positioning ourselves for an increasingly digital and mobile world. We remain deeply committed to serving the vital Monmouth and Ocean County communities. “
All righty then. Good thing they are continuing to pursue great journalism. I hope they get there soon.
Monmouth County property owners have until tomorrow, January 9, 2013 to notify the Monmouth County Board of Taxation of “material damage” caused by Superstorm Sandy and to receive a reduction in their property tax assessment for 2013.
The Tax Board has been surveying properties in heavily damaged areas and already reduced assessments without owners’ notification. I checked on a properties in Highlands and Keansburg this morning. The assessment on the Highlands property had been reduced by 30% and the Keansburg property by 15%.
If your property was materially damaged by Sandy, call the Tax Board at 732-431-7401 or submit your property information here online.
Ocean County GOP Chairman Geroge Gilmore is among a handful of connected lobbyists hired by ![Arnone_2.jpg_11-12[1]](http://www.artgallagher.com/mmmarchive/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Arnone_2.jpg_11-121-219x300.jpg)
January is closing in and February is fast upon us. Good news for the survivors of Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey. You now have until March 1, 2013, to register for disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Monmouth County residents as well as all residents in New Jersey can register online at 
Former Monmouth County Prosecutor John Kaye is the new president of the Monmouth County Affiliated Republican Club.