Monmouth Dems Still Looking to Fill Their Dance Card
By Art Gallagher | MoreMonmouthMusings.com
Their nominating convention is on Saturday, but the Monmouth County Democrats are still searching for candidates to run for the legislature and sheriff. Today’s “soft deadline” for candidates to come forward could be extended beyond the convention. Chairman Vin Gopal’s quest to be the first county party to officially annoint Senator Barbara Buono with the gubernatorial nomination will end up being a self-inflicted wound if he doesn’t have a full slate to announce on Saturday afternoon.
With the official deadline for candidates to file their petitions not until April 1 and with Buono the only serious candidate for governor (there are two other announced candidates, former Glen Ridge Governor Carl Bergmanson and union carpenter Willie Araujo of Edison), Gopal’s decision to hold his convention a month earlier than normal looks silly.
According to our source who doesn’t want to be known for talking to a Republican blogger, Holmdel attorney Lawrence Luttrell will join Spring Lake businessman Brian Froelich on the Democratic ticket for freeholder. Luttrell ran unsuccessfully for township committee in Holmdel last year. Froelich ran against Congressman Chris Smith in the 4th district. Froelich and Luttrell will face off against Freeholder Director Tom Arnone and Deputy Director Serena DiMaso.
I thought Vin was their savior?