An open letter from Manalapan Chairman Steve McEnery

02/19/2007

My fellow County Committee members:
I often look at the County Committee as a family, 800 strong, with the Chairmen being the matriarchs or patriarchs of each of the 53 families in the County the rest make up cousins, aunts uncles, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters. All tied together with the same beliefs. Those beliefs are Republican principals on how our government and our lives should function.
As most families, we have disagreements that some times tear us apart. As many of you know or have heard, Joe Locricchio from Manalapan has decided to run a primary against Assemblywoman Beck in the 12th District. The 12th District you may say, “not my family” but it is. He is not only trying to infect the rest of our family; but the entire County.
Let’s take a look at Mr. Locricchio and understand his actions. He has accomplished little in his 25 months as a Township Committeeman in Manalapan, but takes credit for much. He told our Committee and other Republicans at a meeting that he would vote for Andrew Lucas for mayor and support him. When the vote came, his vote was NO against his Republican running mate. He refused to work with his Municipal Chairman and is trying to start his own Party and run primaries in Manalapan. Why? Because he can’t get his way.
Now he attacks our County Chairman, and the process we have in place to decide who will best represent us and has the best chance in winning this November. Again, we need to ask why. The answer; Mr. Locricchio knows he could never stand up to the scrutiny of the screening process. The man is a charlatan that will do what ever he feels is necessary to get his way. Unfortunately, Manalapan will have to bare the worst of it; I am asking my fellow family members not to be taken in by his rhetoric or the small group of his supporters, because the entire Party will suffer in November.
An overwhelming majority chose our Chairman as the leader of our family. An Asbury Park Press pole showed that 74% of the respondents believe the process we have in place is fair. I believe along with many of my peers that the process will produce a slate of unbeatable candidates. As a family, we need to come together now, and put an end to this ego-driven attack on this great Party of ours.

Steve McEnery
Republican Municipal Chairman, Manalapan

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Adam Puharic, Chairman
Monmouth County Republican Party
www.MonmouthRepublican.org
info@MonmouthRepublican.org
732.431.6664