The Monmouth County Democratic Organization swept races across the county yesterday!
Congratulations to U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. for a big 65% district-wide victory! Congressman Pallone also comfortably carried the Monmouth County portion of the district with over 55% of the vote. President Obama and Senator Menendez nearly matched Governor Romney and Senator Kyrillos vote by vote in what analysts had predicted earlier in the year would be a Republican blowout in Monmouth. They were wrong! Monmouth County Democrats delivered over 125,000 votes for President Obama, the 6th highest amount of votes in the state of all 21 counties. Turnout for the election was at an impressive 58% of registered voters despite half the county still not having power and with thousands of people still displaced from their homes.
Monmouth County Democrats scored major municipal wins, defeating 7 incumbent Republicans. NO Democratic incumbents were defeated. Monmouth County Democrats want to give special thanks to now retired Chairman Victor Scudiery, who served as County Chairman from 1989 up until this past June and was involved in candidate recruitment and setting up the foundation for many of the local campaigns that won this year. Monmouth Dems scored major wins in the Bayshore this year, with wins in Highlands, Atlantic Highlands, Hazlet, Keyport and Matawan, setting up a strong foundation in the Bayshore for future years.
In Atlantic Highlands, Roy Dellosso and Bob Sutton were re-elected, topping two Republican challengers by over 350 votes.
In Belmar, Councilwoman Jennifer Nicolay won nearly 60% of the vote, trouncing her Republican challenger.
In Eatontown, incumbent Councilman Anthony Talerico was top vote-getter by nearly 1,000 votes defeating his Republican challenger. In addition, Janice Kroposky comfortably defeated Republican incumbent Kevin Gonzalez to win the second seat. Welcome to the Eatontown governing body, Councilwoman-Elect Kroposky!
In Farmingdale, 4 Democrats faced 4 Republicans in a showdown for the Western Monmouth community. Democrats Richard Geffken and newcomer Carly Immen defeated their Republican opponents to win 2 of the seats. Democrat Jan Zientek currently trails by just 5 votes behind his Republican challenger for the 3rd seat. Absentee ballots and Provisionals still need to be counted and Monmouth County Democrats' attorneys are weighing a re-count for Jan's seat. Still, winning these 2 seats is a huge breakthrough in a town where Republican voter registration outnumbers Democrats 2 to 1.
In Freehold Borough, Democratic newcomer Ron Griffiths outsed Republican incumbent John Newman while Democratic incumbent Sharon Shutzer was re-elected.
In Hazlet, Democrats Jim DiNardo and Barbara Ronchetti beat Republican incumbent Mayor David Tinker and Committeeman Jim Brady to take a 3-2 majority of the Hazlet governing body, a big win for the Bayshore community.
In Highlands, Democratic Councilman Kevin Redmond was re-elected and Democrat Tara Ryan was elected, winning a Republican held seat.
In Keyport, Democratic Councilman Ken McPeek was re-elected and Sophia Lamberson was elected. Councilwoman-Elect Lamberson will take the seat of Council President Christian Bolte who did not seek re-election. The duo beat their GOP challengers by more than 500 votes.
In Lake Como, Democrats Brian Wilton, Virginia Kropac and Kevin Higgins swept into office, beating back a strong Independent Candidate challenger.
In Matawan, Democratic newcomer Kim Daly was elected to the Borough Council defeating incumbent councilman Andrew Lopez. Democrat Nicholas Nellegar was narrowly defeated for the 2nd seat by just 80 votes. Monmouth County Democrats Attorneys are currently reviewing absentee ballots and provisionals but Democrats have broken the all GOP stronghold in Matawan.
In Neptune, Democrats Dr. Michael Brantley and Mary Beth-Jahn crushed their Republican challengers by more than 4,000 votes.
In Red Bank, Democratic incumbents Michael DuPont and Council President Art Murphy were comfortably re-elected against their Republican challenger.
In Roosevelt, Democrats Thomas Curry and Michael Ticktin were easily re-elected.
In Sea Bright, Democrat Marc Leckstein was easily re-elected.
In Shrewsbury, Democratic Mayor Ed Nolan was easily re-elected.
In Spring Lake, Democrat Janice Venables was the top vote-getter in a 4 way race.
We want to thank Democrats Ed Horgian and Ken Sullivan in Freehold Township, Dorothy Neceda and Susan O'Brien in Fair Haven, Larry Luttrell and Mark Levinson in Holmdel, William Field and Suzanne Wolfe in Howell, Seth Ptasiewicz in Manalapan, Peter Pappas and Michele Battista in Manasquan, Linda Baum in Middletown, Phil Wagner in Rumson, Donald Sena in Shrewsbury, Hugh Meehan and Thomas P. O'Brien in Spring Lake Heights, Florence Foley and Bob Goldman in Upper Freehold, Jesse Beutell in Wall Township all for running strong races in their communities. Many of these towns are tough Republican strongholds, such as Freehold, Fair Haven, Upper Freehold, Rumson and Shrewsbury especially which have not elected Democrats in more than 40 years. They all ran great races, worked hard, knocked on doors and pushed for the entire Democratic ticket.
We want to also thank Congressional Candidate Brian Froelich for giving a strong challenge to 30+ year incumbent. Brian received more votes than any other previous candidate seeking the position. We also want to thank our county slate, Kevin Lavan, Bill Shea & Michael Steinhorn. They all ran a good race.
Everyone at the Monmouth County Democrats would like to say "Thank You" for your support, donations and hard work under strenuous,, sometimes devastating, conditions. These past few months have been marked by victory, heartbreak and everything in-between. But, what keeps us motivated is the passion of our supporters. Our recent rally of over 600 Monmouth County Democrats energized the party towards a successful election season.
But, let us not forget that, as we celebrate these wins, there are still those whose lives were destroyed by last week's storm. Let us remember that those who have volunteered for disaster relief, the first-responders and all of the neighbors & family members who reached out to help one another in each other's time of need...they are what make this County, this State, and the Nation, a beacon of strength, an example of pride and a model of resilience. In the coming weeks, the Monmouth County Democrats and many municipal Democratic clubs will hold donation drives, fundraisers, and volunteer efforts for disaster relief in the particularly hard-hit areas of Monmouth County. Once again, we will ask for your support, your volunteerism and your energy, not to cast a ballot, but to cast aside partisanship and assist ALL residents of Monmouth County.
From the entire Board, Committee Chairs, and staff at the Monmouth County Democratic Organization, Thank You from the bottom of our hearts for a hard-fought election day. A special thanks to our brothers and sisters in organized labor for always standing with us.
On to 2013,
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Vin Gopal
Chairman, Monmouth County Democrats
