GOP convention approves strong slate without Little

BY ADAM PUHARIC

On Saturday, the Monmouth County Republicans gathered to their candidate nominating convention, with more than 400 county committee people making their way to Brookdale Community College in Middletown. The results are in and the conclusions are crystal clear. By more than a 2-to-1 margin, the county committee, the day-to-day leaders and Republican activists voted for a strong party with an effective and empowered chairman.
The Press tried to position the candidate convention as a referendum on Freeholder Anna Little, with a line in the sand drawn between her and the chairman. The sum of four editorials could be boiled down to a simple statement: "Either she goes or I go."
The overwhelming majority of Republican County Committee members did not take the bait. This convention remains about one central task: electing the best people to represent our party in the upcoming general election. Clearly, that was achieved in impressive fashion. The Monmouth County Republicans will go to election battle with one of the strongest tickets, from top to bottom, this party has ever fielded.
We have more qualified women candidates on a single ballot than ever in the history of Monmouth County politics. We are featuring a sheriff candidate, Kim Guadagno, a veteran of the U.S. Attorney's Office, who has made her reputation in prosecuting and removing corrupt politicians. She is smart, tough and the right choice to be Monmouth County's first female sheriff. County Clerk M. Claire French is dignity, grace and professionalism defined.
Alongside her and Freeholder Robert Clifton, Jeff Cantor for freeholder is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and a combat Bronze Star recipient. Cantor will carry on the proud tradition of caring for our veterans and their widows that freeholder Ted Narozanick began. As council president in Marlboro, as an emergency medical technician and a dedicated family man, Cantor exemplifies service to his community.
Rather than serve as a battleground for Democratic hegemony over the Statehouse, Monmouth County Republicans will lead the charge for all of New Jersey to take back the Statehouse for the taxpayers over the special interests.
In the 11th District, Sean Kean will carry on in the Senate the outstanding tradition of Sen. Joseph Palaia. David Rible and Mary Pat Angelini for Assembly are two rising stars who prove the depth of the Monmouth County Republican "bench" of talented candidates.
In the 12th District, Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck will take back the seat currently held by Sen. Ellen Karcher. Her running mates are Declan O'Scanlon and Caroline Casagrande. Casagrande was the absolute star of this past convention, dazzling us all with her wit, humility, depth of reason and tenacity to cut spending in Trenton.
In the 13th District, Sen. Joseph M. Kyrillos Jr. and Assembly members Samuel Thompson and Amy Handlin are the gold standard in ethics and responsible governing.
The Republican County Committee voted to move beyond the divisiveness and infighting of the past two conventions. It was that atmosphere that created Little and helped to lose the first Republican freeholder seat in 20 years.
Little brought that belligerence to the freeholder board, and the Republican County Committee could see fratricide for what it was. Even the freeholders' lone Democrat has been able to serve residents without partisan bickering. This is the consequence of a rebellious few within the Republican Party who used their champion candidate to destroy rather than to build. But that was yesterday, and today is a better day.