Report: Bennett ousted as Woodbridge administrator

John Bennett delivers an impassioned speech at the Monmouth GOP convention on June 11, 2014 before his defeat by Shaun Golden

John O. Bennett III is out of his job as administrator of Woodbridge Township, according to a NewJerseyGlobe report.

The Globe reports that the official word is that Bennett is leaving of his own accord, but that is not entirely true.

Bennett was the last Republican President of the New Jersey Senate. The Party has been out of power in Trenton since Bennett lost his own seat in the 12th legislative district to Marlboro Council President Ellen Karcher in 2003.

During his 3 1/2 days as Acting Governor in 2002, Bennett delivered the State of the State address, held a party at Drumthwacket for his daughters’ engagements, pardoned a friend, had stationary printed, signed bills and “toured New Jersey like a a conquering Caesar visiting the provinces.”

After leaving the Senate in early 2004, Bennett practiced law as the local managing partner of Dilworth Paxon. He was the attorney and prosecutor for Colts Neck, and attorney for Keansburg Borough and Board of Education. He reentered the political arena in 2012 as a candidate for Monmouth County Republican Chairman when Joe Oxley announced his retirement to become a Superior Court Judge. He defeated Christine Giordano Hanlon by 3 votes with the late support of the Bayshore Tea Party.

Bennett wrote the Bayshore Tea Party into the GOP bylaws three months into his chairmanship. The Tea Party then ran a primary against Bennett’s freeholder candidates and 13th legislative district delegation six months later.

Sheriff Shaun Golden defeated Bennett’s bid for a second term as Chairman on June 11, 2014.

Bennett launched his career as a municipal administrator in Oceanport in 2013. He became controversial in Oceanport prompting a write-in campaign for mayor by Jay Coffey against the unopposed Republican Michael Mahon. Bennett announced his retirement hoping to end the controversy and assure Mahon’s reelection. He told MMM that Mahon would have rehired him if reelected. He applied to keep the job in the Coffey administration, but didn’t get it.

Bennett collected unemployment and landed a part time job as Lavallette’s administrator and until being appointed in Woodbridge 26 months ago.

Bennett has been honored as a former governor by the League of Municipalities which includes him on a gubernatorial panel during their annual convention. Democrat governors honored Bennett by invited him to sit with former governors during their State of the State addresses. Former Republican Governor Chris Christie did not extend that honor to Bennett during his two terms.