Pro-Buono Gopal says he didn’t snub mayors with gubernatorial endorsements

By Art Gallagher

Monmouth County Democratic Charman Vin Gopal took issue with MoreMonmouthMusings’ assertion yesterday that Mayors Jon Hornik, Pat Menna and Matt Doherty were “noticeably absent” from the the Party’s announcement that they were endorsing State Senator Barbara Buono for the Democratic nomination for Governor.

“To suggest that our Mayors at at odds with the Party is not accurate,” said Gopal, ” I did not poll all 200 Democratic elected officials and chairs in Monmouth County to announce this endorsement.  As our announcement made clear, the endorsement was made by the Party Executive Committee, most of the Municipal Chairs and members of our advisory committees.”

The names of those who joined Gopal in endorsing Buono can be found by clicking the link below.

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Marlboro Councilwoman Carol Mazzola Switches Parties

Former Republican joins the Democratic Party.  Says Local Democrats Put People First

Marlboro Councilwoman Carol Mazzola has joined the Democratic Party and will seek reelection this fall as a member of her new party, Muncipal Chairman and Council President Frank LaRocca announced today.

“Mayor Jon Hornik and Chairman LaRocca are doing phenomenal jobs,” Mazzola said. “It’s always people first with their team; not politics first. The Council is doing an excellent job and I feel very comfortable being part of their team. They have the best interests of Marlboro at heart.”

Mazzola is the second Republican to switch parties and join Mayor Jonathon Hornik’s and LaRocca’s team since they were first elected in 2007.  Coucilman Jeff Cantor, a former Republican Freeholder candidate, became a member of the Marlboro Democratic team in 2009.

Marlboro GOP Co-Muncipal Chair Selika Joshiah Gore said she was saddened by Mazzola’s decision.

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Gopal Goes Pro Buono

Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal went all in for State Senator Barbara Buono as the Democratic candidate for Governor.

Following multiple news stories yesterday that the Monmouth Dems would “unofficially” endorse Buono pending the outcome of the party’s convention, Gopal released his endorsement today including the names of 75 Monmouth County Democratic Municipal Chairs, party leaders, elected officials and former elected officials.

“I am pleased that over 40 municipal leaders will join me in supporting the candidacy of Barbara Buono as the next Governor of New Jersey,” Gopal said. “She has the guts, the independence, the courage and the will to take on Chris Christie toe to toe on every single issue. As the 4th largest county in the state with over 100,000 registered Democrats, we look forward to aggressively supporting Senator Buono for Governor. This past election cycle, we defeated eight Republican incumbents here in Monmouth County and not a single Democrat was defeated anywhere in the county. We look forward to building on that this November with Barbara Buono at the top of the ticket.”

Notably missing from Gopal’s pro-Buono list are Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornik, Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty and Red Bank Mayor Pat Menna, three of Monmouth County’s most prominent Democrats.

“Its January, said Hornik, “the filing deadline is not until April.  While I am fond of Senator Buono, I would like to see who else is running.  I don’t feel personally compelled to endorse anyone so early.

“I understand what the Chairman (Gopal) is doing.  I have great respect for him, but it is too early for me to be endorsing a gubernatorial candidate.”

Menna was surprised by Gopal’s announcement when reached by MoreMonmouthMusings, “I haven’t seen the letter. It’s still early in the race. Some are still surprised that Booker (Newark Mayor Cory Booker) didn’t run and Codey (State Senator and former Acting Governor Richard Codey) is looking like he might run.”

Doherty, who is running for reelection in Belmar this fall has a new bff in Governor Christie.  Christie and Doherty has been public in their admiration for the jobs they are doing in rebuilding post-Superstorm Sandy. “I don’t have any comment about that,” said the normally forthcoming Doherty when asked about Gopal’s efforts on behalf of Buono.

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Does Pallone have the fortitude to run for U.S. Senate?

Now that Newark Mayor Cory Booker has taken himself out the the gubernatorial race, everyone expects him to run for Frank Lautenberg’s U. S. Senate seat in 2014.    A recent poll indicated that Booker would easily beat Lautenberg in a Democratic primary should the 88 year old senator make another run.

That hasn’t stopped Congressman Frank Pallone from calling Democratic County Chairs to remind them that he is still interested in the Senate seat he has long coveted but never had the guts to fight for.

Pallone best shot at becoming a Senator came and went in 2002 when he declined Governor Jim McGreevey’s offer to replace the disgraced Senator Robert Torricelli on the ballot against Doug Forrester.   McGreevey brought Frank Lautenberg out of retirement and got the State Supreme Court to rewrite New Jersey’s election law so the switch could be made after the statutory deadline.  The polls showing Forrester beating Toricelli scared Pallone off from giving up a easy victory in CD-6 in favor of his dream job in the Senate.

Lautenberg went on to clobber Forrester in 2002 and was elected again in 2008. 

Pallone was passed over for the Senate in 2006 when Governor Jon Corzine chose Bob Menendez to replace him in the Senate.  Menendez won his own term that November and was reelected last month.  He is on the verge of becoming the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Pallone clearly wants to be a Senator, but his history indicates that he doesn’t have the fortitude to risk his cushy lifestyle as a congressman in order to fight for his dream.  I hope he grows a pair and goes for it, because the race to replace him in the 6th Congressional District would be great for blog traffic.

WHO WOULD RUN FOR PALLONE’S CD-6 SEAT IF IT WAS VACANT? 

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It’s official: Booker is not running for Governor

Newark Mayor Cory Booker is calling Democratic Party County Chairs to inform them of his decision not to run for the party’s nomination for governor in 2013.

Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal told MMM that Booker did not say if he would be running for U. S. Senate in 2014.

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Monmouth United: Bennett and Gopal To Throw A Stone Pony Fundraiser for Sandy Recovery

Democrats, Republicans, New Leaders Council Unite for Sandy Relief

Bi-Partisan Event & Concert to Bridge Divide, Raise Money, Collect Clothing, Food & Supplies

On Sunday, December 30, the New Leaders Council – New Jersey will partner with the Monmouth County Republicans, Monmouth County Democrats, New Jersey Young Republicans and New Jersey Young Democrats sponsoring a bi-partisan Hurricane Sandy relief concert at the Stone Pony from 1 – 7 PM.

“Keeping with the goals of the New Leaders Council, we wanted to bridge the political divide by bringing people together to help make a difference for those in need,” said Justin Braz, President of the New Leaders Council – New Jersey.

NJ 101.5 has agreed to help with promoting the event and Kevin McArdle will serve as emcee for the event. The event will feature multiple bands with a speaking program in between each set featuring elected officials and dignitaries. Confirmed bands for the event will include the B Street band, The Pat Roddy Band, Joe Orlando and the Cryers, Vinny Pastore and the Crazy Horse Band and Back Up Jackson.

“This is an excellent opportunity for putting aside partisan differences to help our friends and neighbors begin putting their lives back together,” said John Bennett, Chairman of the Monmouth County Republicans.

“We look forward to working with Chairman Bennett and Monmouth County Republicans to assist all of our neighbors across Monmouth County who were affected by this horrible storm. Monmouth Democrats and Republicans share the hope and determination to rebuild and restore our great County and State,” said Vin Gopal, Chairman of the Monmouth County Democrats.

Attendees can also bring Food and Cleaning Supplies for donation to the Monmouth Ocean County Food Bank.

“This is a great chance for our organizations to combine efforts for a worthy cause that will benefit our community,” said Tony Howley, Chairman of the New Jersey Young Republicans.

All proceeds raised at the event will be donated to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund.

“We are proud to be a part of this effort raising awareness and funds to rebuild the Jersey shore and surrounding communities,” said Chris James, President of the New Jersey Young Democrats.

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APP endorses Claire French for Clerk

Could they possibly endorse Curley and DiMaso for Freeholders too?

The Asbury Park Press has recognised the fine job Republican County Clerk M. Claire French has done over the last ten years and endorsed her for a third five year term.

The Neptune Nudniks got this one right.  They dismissed Democratic candidate Michael Steinhorn as someone who “has little to recommend him for the job,” despite the fact that he exposed the statistical anomaly of the Monmouth GOP winning the first general election ballot position in 30 of 33 years and that they like his proposal to that the clerk’s office provide mobile services to seniors and veterans.

Given their logic in endorsing French, it will be fascinating to see how they endorse at least one of the Democratic Freeholder candidates, as I expect they will.

The Democratic Freeholder campaign has been so anemic that I suspect many readers don’t even know who is running.  Despite the Monmouth Dems outraising the Monmouth GOP through September, there is little evidence that Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal and his team are trying to get their nominal slate elected.   Publicly Democratic leaders say the right things about supporting their candidates. Privately they seem resigned to a Republican blow out.

The Democratic candidates are William Shea and Kevin Lavan.  Shea, as Amy Mallet’s running mate, lost to Freeholders Lillian Burry and Gary Rich last year. He is challenging Freeholder Director John Curley for a full three year term.  Lavan, who lost his run for Assembly to Declan O’Scanlon and Amy Handlin in the 13th district last year, is running against Freeholder Serena DiMaso for the remaining one year of Rob Clifton’s term.  Clifton resigned upon being sworn into the State Assembly.

Shea and Lavan were not even on the same page when the Nudniks interviewed all four candidates in September.  Shea recklessly proposed a 20% across the board spending cut from the county budget without backing up how he would do it.   Lavan said “maybe” depending upon the results of an audit.

Yet, the Nudniks loath single party control of any governing body (except the federal government when it is in Democratic hands) and has a historical bias against “Club Monmouth” as they frequently call the Monmouth GOP.  They seem to forget that all of the Monmouth Republican county office holders and all of Monmouth GOP leadership has been replaced since Operation Bid Rig, except Claire French who they just endorsed.  The GOP holds all five seats on the Freeholder Board.

Will the APP editorial board affirm the nudnikness and endorse Shea or Lavan?  We’ll find out soon.  Either way, it won’t matter on election day.   It might matter to their own crediblity if the actually endorse the best people for the job and get over their own biases.

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Monmouth Dems Outraise Monmouth GOP

In their first quarters as party chairmen, Democrat Vin Gopal bested Republican John Bennett in the fundraising battle by over $10,000.

According to their reports filed with the NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission, the Monmouth County Democrats raised $38,647.50. and spent $28,096.01.  The Democrats started the quarter with only $957 in cash. As of September 30th they had $11,509.

The Monmouth GOP ended the quarter with almost $2,000 less cash than it had when Bennett was elected.  The GOP reported raising $28,296 and spending $30,284.  Former Chairman Joe Oxley left Bennett with $34,790.  Of the $28K  Bennett raised, $6000 was donated by the Election Fund of Assemblyman Dave Rible and $3000 was donated by Senator Jennifer Beck’s campaign account.

Gopal’s large donors were Local Union 400 IBEW ($3500), the Middletown Democrats ($1850), Plumbers and Pipe fitters Local Union #9 ($1000) and the Uliano Law Firm of West Long Branch ($1500).

Gopal raised $20,710 in contributions of $300 or less.  Bennett raised $9,802 in donations of $300 or less.

“The Monmouth County Democrats are organizing at a grassroots level because residents across the county are beginning to realize there is a very clear difference between the two political parties,” said Gopal,   “At our convention last June, we had a turnout of over 90% of our county committee with hundreds of new county committee members entering the political process, many of them first time contributors to our party,”

” With party standard bearers like Barack Obama, Bob Menendez and Frank Pallone, people see that we are building and we are organizing.  The Monmouth County Democratic Party is fighting for middle-class taxpayers, fighting for small business owners and working to protect our environment.  There is a clear difference between the two county parties and our messages and people across the county are beginning to recognize these differences.”

Bennett did not return a call for comment.

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Is Mitt Romney getting a pass?

Is Mitt Romney “getting a pass” from the media for only releasing two years of tax returns and a summary of twenty years of returns?

In a column titled The Hypocrisy of the Far Right published in the local Patches, Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal says Romney is getting a pass.

Really Vin?  Really?

It seems to me that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who for weeks lied to the American people with his claim that Romney didn’t pay taxes at all, is the one who is getting a pass.

Did Republicans give Romney a pass?  Gopal would have us believe that Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter and Sean Hannity are more influential Republican leaders than Governor Chris Christie.  Christie called on Romney to release all of his tax returns back in January. 

Gopal says Limbaugh, Coulter and Hannity have “hijacked” the Republican Party:

So why does Mitt Romney get a pass? Because the Republican Party has been hijacked by Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh and their friends, who dedicate every second of their “news” programs in destroying the character of our President.

Really Vin?  Really?

Destroying Obama’s character?  The Obama camp accused Romney of being responsible for woman’s death!

Romney paid $1.9 million in taxes in 2011.  More than he had to pay, because he did not fully take advantage of the charitable giving deduction.  He did not deduct all $4 million + of the charitable donations he made.  How much coverage is that getting in the mainstream media?

Who in American political history has every gotten a bigger pass than Obama?

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Vin Gopal: Obama has a good chance of winning Monmouth County

Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal thinks President Barack Obama will do better in Monmouth County than he did four years ago.

Speaking to a Star Ledger reporter in Charlotte during the Democratic National Convention, Gopal said:

“I think President Obama has a great shot to win Monmouth County this year,” said Gopal. “He came very close four years ago. The Republicans are hoping that people have amnesia and don’t remember the eight years under George W. Bush.”

Gopal knows where his votes are:

“We want to get our votes out for the President in Democratic constituencies like Long Branch, Neptune and Asbury Park to help make sure he gets four more years.”

In 2008, Obama lost Monmouth County to John McCain by only 12,000, due to an extraordinarily high Democratic turnout in Long Branch, Neptune and Asbury Park.  Obama’s coattails helped sweep Amy Mallet to victory over John Curley for freeholder, giving the Democratic Party control of the Freeholder Board for the first time in twenty years.

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