Hill will be featured in this week's Courier

There will be a feature-length story this week about Monmouth County Democratic Sheriff's candidate Jack Hill in this week's Courier, available on Thursday.

Hill, who currently serves as the Belmar police chief, will be talking about what he has learned during a walking and listening tour throughout northern Monmouth County, the Bayshore.

Guadagno: Strong, talented and making a case for sheriff

I had an opportunity to interview Kim Guadagno today. She is the Monmouth Beach commissioner and former assistant U.S. attorney running for Monmouth County sheriff this November for the Republican Party.

Mrs. Guadagno's resume is very impressive. She holds a juris doctor degree from the American University in Washington DC., and has significant experience on the frontline against crime. Mrs. Guadagno has worked for the U.S. Marshal Service, and, working for the U.S. Attorney's Office, prosecuted several organized crime family members.

She has lived in Monmouth for 17 years and knows the county well. Mrs. Guadagno is a clearly competent, qualified and energetic candidate who has a number of fresh ideas and plans to continue the five-star agency Monmouth County Sheriff Joe Oxley has created over his 12-year tenure.

Mrs. Guadagno is running against Belmar Police Chief Jack Hill. I will be interviewing Mr. Hill in a week or so. Mrs. Guadagno's feature will be appearing in next week's Courier.

On a personal note, after interviewing both Mr. Hill and Mrs. Guadagno, I find it refreshing that the county has two strong, talented people, each of whom are a credit to this county. Of some comfort is that each of them are intent upon continuing another distinct legacy Sheriff Oxley leaves, which is the one whereby Joe kept politics at arms' length during his time in this important county post.

If every race had candidates this strong in both parties, Monmouth would be a better place.

Sheriff candidates will be interviewed in upcoming weeks

The Courier is going to be profiling candidates for Monmouth County sheriff Jack Hill, Democrat, and Kim Guadagno, Republican, in the upcoming weeks. Mrs. Guadagno will be featured within the next two weeks and Mr. Hill within the following two weeks after that.

Courier appreciates these very forthcoming candidates. So folks are aware, when Courier treats candidate profiles, there is no bashing, name calling or any of that (not that these two candidates would). Our profiles are presented to allow residents to: A. Hear positions, B. Learn some biography, and C. Hear about some of the influences and models the candidates draw from in making decisions.

Candidates will be profiled frequently, and all candidates who take the time to contact us will be treated. No candidates are ran after for a feature. There is no partisan bias to any feature, because this is an opportunity for residents to hear what these people have to say. This is open to all local, county and state candidates within the coverage area for The Courier (county candidates are not region-specific).

I encourage candidates to come out and contact. Should one set of party candidates contact us to be interviewed, and the other party's candidates either decline equal time or do not get back to us, then that would be their problem. With that said, The Courier's number is 732-957-0070, and Alyssa Passeggio covers Highlands, Atlantic Highlands, Matawan, Aberdeen, Keyport and Union Beach; while Scott Shanley covers Middletown, Hazlet, Keansburg and Holmdel.

Caliendo hosts Democratic event in M'town

M'town Dems host event at chairman's home

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): Middletown Democratic Chairman Joe Caliendo hosted an event at his township home on Daniel Drive this past Wednesday.

About 200 local Democrats came out for the mixer.

Dignitaries included county Democratic candidates: Jack Hill, for sheriff; John D'Amico and David Schueyler, both for freeholder; Amod Choudury, for clerk; Patricia Walsh and Robert Brown, for 13th District Assembly; and Sean Byrnes and Janet Moscuzza, who are running for Township Committee.

Other dignitaries included Middletown Committeeman Patrick Short.

"It's always great to get a chance to come to Middletown and get an opportunity to speak with people here," said Hill, who is also the chief of police for Belmar.

D'Amico said the county candidates have been working hard to spread their message of reform in Monmouth. "There is a lot of energy around the campaign and I am enjoying the chance to work with so many people who are dedicated to governmental reform," he said.

Caliendo appreciated that the candidates took time out of their busy schedules to attend the event. "This is the best slate of candidates I can think of to represent Monmouth. Every resident in this county will be fortunate to have this group of people representing them beyond November," Caliendo said.

Caption: Taken during the county convention: (L-R): Jack Hill, candidate for sheriff; Patricia Walsh, 13th District Assembly candidate; John D'Amico, candidate for freeholder; Leonard Inzerillo, 13th District Assembly Senate candidate; and Robert Brown, candidate for 13th District Assembly candidate.

Hill will be profiled in the next edition of The Courier

I just concluded an interview with Belmar Police Chief Jack Hill for next week's edition of The Courier. I think it's going to make for a good profile, so I encourage people to pick up next week's edition. For those of you who do not know it already, Chief Hill is running as the Democratic candidate for Monmouth County sheriff.

In the meantime, I want to restate that any candidate, from either party, seeking a profile should call the newspaper at (732) 957-0070, and ask for anyone from the Editorial Department. We do not run around looking for candidates to do profiles, but if they take the initiaitve then so will we.

As for Chief Hill, he outlined some ideas he had for improving existing programs at the Sheriff's Department, while innovating some new concepts in the county war on gang activity.