The Big Things to Watch for in Murphy’s Inaugural Budget

Gov. Phil Murphy is scheduled to present his first state budget this afternoon in a speech before a joint session of the Legislature in Trenton. Since being sworn in earlier this year, Murphy, a Democrat, has promised to take the state in a new direction after eight years under former Republican Gov. Chris Christie. The budget… Read the rest of this entry »

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Sheriff Shaun Golden Warns of IRS Scam

Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden issued the following warning to residents this afternoon.

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Welle Files His Financial Disclosure Report

Congressional Candidate’s Disclosure Raises More Questions

Congressional Candidate Josh Welle

Josh Welle, address unknown, the Democrat endorsed by the Monmouth and Ocean Democrats to run against Congressman Chris Smith in the 4th Congressional District, filed his Financial Disclosure Report with the Clerk of the House of Representatives on Sunday, March 11.  MMM reported on Saturday March 10 that Welle was over four months late in filing the report, a violation of the Ethics in Government Act that could result in a fine up to $58,000.

Welle has not explained why he did not file the report as required in October of 2017.  Nor is it clear that the report filed on Sunday brings him into compliance.   Welle reached the $5000 fund raising threshold that triggered the requirement of the report within thirty days on September 29, 2017. He was then required to disclose his assets and sources of income of more than $5,000 for 2016 and 2017 within thirty days.  The report filed yesterday indicated that it is for the year 2017 but also indicates that it covers the period of January 1, 2017 through February 28, 2018.  The disclosures of income and assets seem to be for 2017 and YTD 2018. Read the rest of this entry »

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Welle Wins Ocean Dems’ endorsement to challenge Congressman Chris Smith

As expected, the Ocean County Democrats endorsed Joshua Welle over former Asbury Park Councilman Jim Keady for the nomination to challenge Congressman Chris Smith in the 4th Congressional District, at their Mini-Convention in Bayville this afternooon.  InsiderNJ reports that Welle was the choice of 46 mini-delegates to Keady’s 16.

Welle will have the ‘party line’ on the June 5 primary ballot in both Ocean and Monmouth Counties.  That means his name will be bracketed in the same ballot column as U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, each county’s freeholder candidates and the party endorsed municipal candidates.  The Mercer County Dems have not yet awarded their endorsement. Hamilton and Robbinsville are the only Mercer County communities that are in CD-4.

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What is Josh Welle hiding? Congressional candidate is in violation of the Ethics in Government Act

The front runner for the Democrat nomination to run against Congressman Chris Smith in the 4th Congressional District has failed to file his Financial Disclosure Report with the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Josh Welle, address unknown, won the endorsement to challenge Congressman Smith at the Monmouth County Democrat Mini-Convention last weekend when he earned 60% of the delegates’ votes to 40% for former Asbury Park Councilman Jim Keady.  Welle is heavily favored to win the Ocean County endorsement at a Mini-Convention on Sunday afternoon, March 11 at Central Regional High School in Bayville. Read the rest of this entry »

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Judge Blocks JCP&L High-Voltage Line, Rebukes Utility on Project Plan

An administrative law judge yesterday rejected a $111 million, 10-mile, high-voltage line by Jersey Central Power & Light in Monmouth County, handing residents a rare victory in what is usually a losing battle: opposing transmission projects. In stinging language, the judge, Gail Cookson, rebuked the utility for failing to demonstrate the project is needed, for not… Read the rest of this entry »

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Arnone Report: Updates on bridge repairs, Shark River dredging and the coming tourism season

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone speaks at the NJTPA Board Meeting – Jan 22, 2018

While I could say the last few weeks have been very busy, the truth of the matter is that the County stays busy around the year with ongoing projects and initiatives.

I would like to provide a few updates from the departments I oversee, including the County’s Department of Public Works and Engineering. I’m proud to serve as the liaison to this department and cannot praise enough the tremendous work these – and all – County employees do on a daily basis to maintain the high quality of life we enjoy in Monmouth County.

One ongoing project this department has been working on is the rehabilitation of the East End Avenue Bridge, located between Neptune Township and Neptune City.  This project was designed to improve overall safety of the traveling public in the area. Additionally, it’s $3.7 million cost will receive 92% of its funding through the New Jersey State Transportation Trust Fund, with the remainder of funding coming from the County, at no cost to the municipalities. Read the rest of this entry »

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Matt Doherty Gets Big Atlantic City Job From Murphy

Governor Phil Murphy and Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty looking like Chris Christie on Super Tuesday

Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty has joined the Murphy Administration as the Deputy Executive Director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, according to a story posted by NewJerseyGlobe.

Doherty started the job which does not require confirmation by the state Senate on Monday.  His predecessor earned $175,000 per year, according to the NJGlobe report. Read the rest of this entry »

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Hugin Wins Ocean GOP Endorsement, Goldberg loses endorsements he didn’t have

Bob Hugin accepts the endorsement for U.S. Senate from the Ocean GOP. Chairman George Gilmore in the background. photo by Mike Ward

Former Celgene CEO Bob Hugin won the U.S. Senate endorsement of the Ocean County Republican Party tonight in Toms River, defeating the Ocean GOP’s 2014 nominee, Brian Goldberg, by a margin of 142-12.

“Ocean County delivers the highest number of Republican votes of any county in New Jersey and we are fully behind Bob Hugin,” said OCGOP Chairman George Gilmore. “We need a Senator that New Jersey can be proud of again, and we are confident Bob is that person.  We will deliver for Bob and all of our GOP candidates on November 6th.”

“I’m honored and proud to receive the formal endorsement of the Ocean County Republican Organization,” said Bob Hugin. “My parents instilled in me the values of service to community and country at a young age.  I’ve lived those values as a US Marine and business leader, and will do the same as our next United States Senator.”  Read the rest of this entry »

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Pezzullo to challenge Pallone

Rich Pezzullo

Conservative businessman Rich Pezzullo announced last night that he will seek the GOP nomination to challenge Congressman Frank Pallone in the 6th Congressional District of New Jersey (parts of Monmouth and Middlesex counties).

Pezzullo declared his candidacy at the Middlesex County Republican Women’s Club’s annual Reagan Day celebration.

“We can no longer allow enemies of American progress like Frank Pallone to represent us when he and others like him are spending every day trying to hold our nation back. I am challenging him because I believe that the Sixth District deserves so much better — a representative they can rely on, that they can be proud of,” Pezzullo told the gathering. “Pallone was elected to Congress 30 years ago and has not accomplished anything. He is too far left even for his own rabidly leftist party. Isn’t it time for a Congressman who will work for a living?” Read the rest of this entry »

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