Christie will file to seek governor's office

CAPTION: Then-U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie with former GOP candidate for freeholder John Curley at a Red Bank event about a year ago.

In a story by Star-Ledger reporter Josh Margolin, it is reported that former New Jersey U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie is filing papers to run for governor in New Jersey. Christie, a former member of the Morris County Board of Freeholders, gained wide notoriety in Monmouth County for federal prosecution of several area office holders on corruption charges in connection with Operation Bid Rig a few years ago.

Click oin the headline to go to the story at NJ.com.

Giannell named as Curley's replacement

When Red Bank Councilman John Curley stepped aside to focus on running for freeholder, the governing body had to name a successor. That successor is former Red Bank Republican Chairman Jim Giannell.

Jim is a well-known reformer in the Monmouth County Republican Party who has been very active during county conventions in recent years.

Best of luck to Jim in this new office. There is certainly a lot that needs to get done in the borough. One thing about the APP report: They keep on referring to Mr. Giannell as James "Jack" Giannell. I've known Jim for some years now. I don't recall anyone ever calling him "Jack." Someone might have mixed something up there.

Anyway, click on the headline to go to the APP story about it.

Politicker has good convention story

Max Pizarro from the Politicker was at the GOP convention last night and has turned in a story about it on that site.

In the story, he said, "Burry was blunt in describing where the campaign's focus would be over the coming months. 'We're really running against (Gov. Jon) Corzine,' she said."

With respect to Freeholder Director Burry, I do not believe the GOP candidates are just running against the governor. There is a pattern of superfluous patronage and partisanship that is unacceptable (e.g. Malcolm Carton and John Tobia, among others) in Monmouth County, operating within the Monmouth County Republican Party and many of its candidates and office holders.

This patronage is costing this county money in high hourly rates and talent, in that unqualified and over-priced partisan appointments are the way things still happen in the county seat. What arm of the GOP someone operates within, and who is related to what GOP officer, is sometimes THE key factor in any county employment.

Yes, financially, this board did the right thing this year with the tax rate by not raising taxes -- now let's talk about cutting them. But a fundamental change to the approach of this government is necessary for Republicans to be the best choice for service on this board this year.

If anyone is able to say, 'That was then and this is now,' the idea that these kinds of appointments to office (or selection of firms) will continue to go on would be unacceptable to many, myself included. Personally, I am very interested to hear about how this isn't going to go on anymore, even if errors of the past cannot be dealt with (e.g. the money already wasted on partisan professionals).

Republican office holders may want to be nice, but they should do it with their own money and not the taxpayers'. I am sure there will be a position about this: I know I'll be asking the questions. I can only hope they are answered.

Click on the headline to go to The Politicker.

Curley wins GOP place on freeholder ballot!

It has been reported by a very credible source that Red Bank Councilman John Curley has won the Republican nomination for Monmouth County freeholder.

Councilman Curley will join Freeholder Director Lillian Burry on the ballot against Democrats Glenn Mason and Amy Mallet. Congratulations to Councilman Curley.

Best wishes should also be extended to Holmdel Mayor Serena DiMaso. For the record, I thought it would not happen; could not happen. And, I was dead wrong.

DiMaso and Curley are contending for freeholder nod

The Democratic race for freeholder is still open. In the GOP, though, the choice for the Monmouth County Committee includes Holmdel Mayor Serena DiMaso and Red Bank Councilman John Curley.

The two GOP contenders are a study in contrast. Mayor DiMaso is a mainstream party enthusiast, who is popular with those in charge of the party in Freehold. She is a favorite of the Middletown GOP and she has worked within the structure of the party for many years. Mayor DiMaso is popular in her hometown, and well known in Northern Monmouth County.

Councilman Curley is known as a maverick -- true -- but has a reputation for plain honesty and competence. He is a hard campaigner who is less a creature of the GOP than he is a force of nature. Councilman Curley is a grassroots kind of candidate, who is likely to translate well with the electorate but maybe not so much with the inner circles of the GOP.

Both candidates are strong comers and have solid credentials to go to Freehold. Mayor DiMaso will probably make the core infrastructure of the party more enthusiastic, and Councilman Curley is likely to energize the grassroots and build bridges with some of the factions of the party where ties have been strained.

The issue of who will run with Freeholder Director Lillian Burry is another question. Running two women on a ticket is non-traditional, but this has been anything but a traditional year. A more conventional scenario would be a man and a woman running, which would give the edge to Councilman Curley. What's next? Good question.