Now that the Monmouth Democrats don’t have a candidate officially running for Senate in the 13th district, maybe they should take a page from the Burlington County Democrats and get a celebrity to run. In case you missed it, former Olympian and former music video star Carl Lewis is running for Senate as a Democrat in the 8th legislative district.
As much as I would like to see Tea Party Democrat Mark Falzon muck up the works by waging a write in campaign for the 13th Democratic Senate nod, the district has numerous celebrity residents that would make terrible candidates but be great for blog traffic.
Bruce Springsteen has recently become a policy wonk. The anti-poverty activist has estates in Rumson and Colts Neck. If he’s registered to vote in Rumson he can run in the 13th. If Bruce is registered to vote in Colts Neck, we’ll know who the third vote is for Democratic Township Committee candidate, our friend Rick Ambrosia, is in November.
Film maker Kevin Smith hails from Highlands.
Drummer and real estate developer Max Weinberg was a trustee of the Monmouth Conservation Foundation before subdividing his Middletown estate.
Is there no liberal hypocrite willing to challenge Kyrillos?
The Monmouth County Democratic Organization will hold a “mini-convention” tomorrow at the Carpenters Union Hall in Red Bank for the purpose of nominating county and state legislative candidates for the June primary election.
One reader asked me today, “How come the Democrats are so good at keeping a lid on who their potential candidates are and everyone knows who the Republican players are?”
The answer is two fold: 1) The Democrats have been having a difficult time recruiting candidates. They don’t have a deep bench of elected officials on the municipal level in Monmouth County. 2) Unlike the GOP that has incumbent legislators we knew were going to run regardless of how the new map was drawn, the Democrats have only had since Sunday to determine who lives in what district and if any of the districts are competitive.
Based upon numerous conversations with Monmouth Democrats who will never talk to me again if I name them, the contenders for the various nominations are as follows:
Surrogate: Little Silver Councilman Daniel O’Hern, Jr is the most prominent name mentioned. O’Hern is the son of the former State Supreme Court Justice. He is the Red Bank Borough Attorney and former Middletown Township Committeeman Sean Byrnes law partner.
Freehold Township Attorney Ray Santiago’s name has been mentioned for Surrogate, as has Lake Como Councilman Brian Wilton. Wilton’s name has also been mentioned for Freeholder.
Freeholder: Incumbent Freeholder Amy Mallet will be nominated. William Shea of Howell, a 32 year old State Trooper who is retiring on June 1st has emerged as the front runner to be Mallet’s running mate.
11th Legislative District: Many Democrats think this district, which includes Neptune Township, Asbury Park, Long Branch and Red Bank, is competitive. This is where the action has been for Democrats this week as potential candidates lobby delegates for the chance to challenge Senator Jennifer Beck and Assemblywomen Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande in the general election.
For Senate, former Assemblyman Michael Panter is in the running. Amy Quinn of Asbury Park, the County Vice-Chair and municipal chair is gathering support, as is Asbury Park Mayor Ed Johnson.
Red Bank Councilman Michael Dupont and Freehold Borough Councilman Jay Sims are also in the mix for Senate.
For Assembly, Kevin McMillan, Randy Bishop and Jason Jones, all of Neptune Township are in the mix, as is Red Bank Councilwoman Sharon Lee and Santiago of Freehold Township. Vin Gopal of Long Branch is considering a bid.
12th Legislative District: As busy as the Democrats are the the 11th is as quiet as they are the the 12th. As of this writing, the Monmouth Dems might let the Ocean and Middlesex Democrats nominate the candidates for this district.
13th Legislative District. No one wants to run against Joe Kyrillos for Senate, but some Democrats are trying to coax former Judge, Senator, Freeholder and Parole Board Chairman John D’Amico of Oceanport to come out of retirement one more time.
For Assembly in the 13th, former Hazlet Mayor Kevin Lavan and Atlantic Highlands Councilman Roy Dellosso are the likely nominees to challenge GOP incumbents Amy Handlin and Declan O’Scanlon.
The 30th Legislative District is the only slate that is settled for the Democrats. Steve Morlino of Howell Township will be making yet another run against Senator Robert Singer. Rabbi Howard Kleinhendler, who ran against Chris Smith for Congress last year will run for Assembly. Point Pleasant Borough Councilman Shaun O’Rourke will complete the Assembly ticket in the 30th.
Monmouth County Democrats are getting to work early in defending their only remaining Freeholder seat.
Last night at the Bella Vista Country Club in Marlboro, Democratic Freeholder Amy Mallet held a campaign kickoff/fundraiser hosted by Vin Gopal, co-owner of Communtiy Publications, and co-hosted by Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornick, County Chairman Vic Scudiery, and former Freeholder John D’Amico. Middlesex County Senator Barbara Buono, a potential 2013 gubernatorial candidate, was the Special Guest Speaker.
Gopal announced that the event raised over $10,000.
Mallet and Republican Freeholder Lillian Burry are both up for reelection this fall.
Burry opened a facebook page on Tuesday and is hoping to have 50 fans by the end of the week. As of 10:30 this morning she has 17 fans. I think MMM readers can produce 100 fans for Burry by the end of the day today. Click here and “Like Lillian“.
