Republicans Take Control In Belmar

Freeholder Sue Kiley, Belmar Council Members Tom Carvelli, Jim McCracken and Patricia Wann, Mayor Mark Walsifer, Sheriff Shaun Golden, Freeholder Director Tom Arnone and Freeholder Gerry Scharfenberger celebrate Republican government in Belmar, Jan 5,2019 at the Belmar Fishing Club

The Borough of Belmar has a Republican mayor and a majority Republican Council for the first time since the town’s residents voted in the current form of government in 1990.

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Moving School Elections Back to April is in the Best Interest of Parents, Students and Taxpayers

By Tony Fiore, Deputy Mayor, Middletown, NJ

Middletown Deputy Mayor Tony Fiore

In 2012, the Middletown Township Committee voted on a resolution to be a part of what was an initial pilot program to move the local Board of Education Election from April to November.  The benefit of entering that program was that election costs could be saved for the Township while school budgets would not be subject to voter approval so long as they complied with the 2% cap.

After 6 years of election data, it has become clear the potential benefits of this change do not outweigh the unintended fiscal and political costs of continuing to elect Board of Education members during a partisan electoral cycle.

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Congressman Smith: Reports that he voted against the wall are inaccurate

In a phone interview with MMM this morning, Congressman Chris Smith, R-NJ 4, said that published reports by New Jersey Globe and SaveJersey claiming that he voted with Democrats to reopen the federal government without funding a wall for our southern border are incomplete and inaccurate.

“I am a strong supporter of securing our southern border, including the wall–I voted for $5.7 billion for the wall in December-– and have been throughout my career,” Smith said.  “The bill I voted for yesterday, H J Res 1, would fund the only Department of Homeland Security and only until February 9.”

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Middletown’s Millennial Mayor

Tony Perry

Tony Perry, 28, will become the youngest mayor in Middletown’s history when the Township Committee meets on Sunday to reorganize for 2019, according to an announcement by the Township.

Perry was elected to a three year term on the Township Committee last Election Day. He has been a member of the Committee since November of 2017 when he was appointed to fill the vacancy created when Steve Massell resigned upon taking office on the Monmouth County Tax Board.

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Freeholder Gerry Scharfenberger’s remarks upon being sworn in

As prepared for delivery

Thank you everyone and happy New Year.  It is an absolute honor to be standing here as a part of this new and much improved Freeholder board.  My first year on the board has been not only a great learning experience but also very productive.  One of the initiatives I am most proud of is the Faith Based initiative we passed early last year.  This is designed to provide services and programs without tax dollars in partnership with houses of worship and other non-profit organizations.  It’s also a way to right size government which in my opinion, has taken on way too many of the roles of the private and non-profit sectors over the years.  Another initiative I have worked on this year on behalf of the board is the creation of affordable housing in the county through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity.  So far, two municipally-owned lots have been identified in Middletown and one sub-dividable lot in Highlands to be turned over to Habitat at no cost for the construction of up to 15 units.  Meetings with several other municipalities are being scheduled to inventory similar lots that can be redeveloped for affordable housing.  This is the way it should be done – without the heavy hand of government and some costly, environmentally devastating unfunded mandate foisted upon the taxpayers.

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Freeholder Sue Kiley’s remarks upon being sworn in

As prepared for delivery

First, my heartfelt thanks to Chairman Shaun Golden and Co-Chair, Christine Hanlon, for their hard work, direction,  and drive during the campaign to secure victory for Gerry and me.  And thank you to the current Monmouth County Freeholders, Director Tom Arnone, Lillian Burry, Pat Imprevaduto and my running mate, Gerry Sharfenberger for the work you are doing for our great County!

Most importantly, thank you to the voters of Monmouth County for electing me to serve as a Freeholder with this great board.   I am honored and humbled that you have placed your trust in me.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend: January 3-6, 2019

By Greg Kelly

Thursday, Jan. 3

• Happy New Year 2019
• New Year’s Day Beach Walk on Sandy Hook – MORE INFO
• Learn to Play Bridge (Shrewsbury) – MORE INFO
• Bayshore Hooks and Needles (Hazlet) – MORE INFO
• SHIP: MediCare Questions Answered (Manalapan) – MORE INFO
• Knit Wits: Enjoy Knitting & Crocheting (Manalapan) – MORE INFO
• Atlantic Cinemas Movie Night (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO
• Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Crocheters of the Jersey Shore (Wall Twp.) – MORE INFO
• Squan Village Historical Society Museum Tours (Manasquan) – MORE INFO

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Colts Neck Man Indicted For Kidnapping, Sexual Assault and Child Pornography

Terry Y. Kuo aka Victor Lee

Terry Y. Kuo, 27,  of Colts Neck, also known as Victor Lee, was indicted by a Monmouth County Grand Jury on December 21 on 47 counts including kidnapping, sexual assault and other misconduct involving a student and other local children, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on Wednesday afternoon.

Kuo was a youth tennis instructor prior to his arrest on November 12, 2017. He was previously indicted last February on 15 counts of various sexual assault and child pornography charges.

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Belmar Democrats fined by Election Law Enforcement Commission

The Belmar Democratic Committee and the committee’s former chairman and treasurer, Luis B. Pulido, were fined a total of $1,972.18 by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission for late disclosure reports from 2012 and 2013, according to a Final Decision posted of the commission’s website this morning.

On July 11, 2018, the commission issued a complaint charging that the Belmar Democrats and Pulido with six counts of late and incomplete reports for 2012 and 2013.

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Curley goes out with a whimper : Video

John Curley began 2018 pledging an epic fight during his fire and brimstone rant at the Monmouth County Reorganization on January 4.

He ended the year, and his career as a freeholder, with a whimper during a statement at his final meeting as an elected member of the Monmouth County governing body.

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