John Bennett, the part time borough administrator of Lavallette since a month after he left his full time borough administrator position in Oceanport, has filed an unemployment claim, according to a statement by Councilman Stuart Briskey during the Oceanport Borough Council meeting on June 16.
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.
Monmouth GOP Chairman John O. Bennett III emailed a new “final draft” of proposed bylaws this afternoon. For the most part the draft released today is a match for the previous “final draft” released last week.
A quick read revealed one minor change to the candidate selection process that MMM suggested last week…an “open seat” seat is now defined as an office with no Republican incumbent. Previously “open seat” was undefined.
Bennett’s bylaws, both drafts, contain a major change that MMM’s research and investigative staff missed last week. He is proposing that that Chair and Vice Chair be elected annually. From Article IV, section 1:
The County Chairman and Vice Chairman shall be elected at the annual meeting called in accordance with law as described in Title 19. In the event a vacancy occurs in the position of County Chairman or Vice Chairman, a meeting of the County Committee shall be held within forty-five (45) days of said vacancy to fill the unexpired term. (emphasis added)
The term of the Monmouth County Chairs of both parties has been two years since the Florio Administration.
Bennett told MMM that the change was unintentional and that he realizes that the bylaws as proposed are not perfect. He said he intends to serve for two years. He plans on amending the bylaws at a convention in March of 2013.
The currently proposed bylaws will be up for adoption at a convention of the GOP County Committee that will take place on Saturday, September 29 from 9am-11am at Colts Neck High School.
