Save Jersey’s 30 Under 30 List (NJ GOP Edition)

By The Staff

Red Jersey’s many talented GOP and conservative operatives too often get a bum rap (or no rap at all) laboring in the unforgiving vineyards of Blue Jersey.

Well, not on our watch.

Save Jersey‘s editorial team decided it’s time to slap together a 30(ish) under 30 list, shining a bright social media spotlight on a cream-of-the-crop sampling of the exceptionally young political warriors (and we do mean some – this list isn’t exhaustive) who are quite literally trying to ‘save’ this state on a daily basis, toiling in the trenches, often without health benefits but powered by hot Wawa coffee and cold cheese pizza.

Yes, there’s more than 30 names on the list.

Elephants

No, they’re not listed in any particular order.

Many of them came up with Chris Christie in ’09 and, with a new governor set to be elected next fall, you can expect to see more than a few of these folks playing bigger roles in NJ GOP affairs going forward. A few will undoubtedly say “screw it” at some point and head to law school or a random lobbying/government affairs office. We can’t blame them; there’s little glory in New Jersey Republicanism.

Did we forget a few people below? Probably. Don’t be shy about providing a shout-out of your own in the comments. Remember: our primary goal here isn’t to stroke egos or reward sources. We’re bringing attention to individuals — and causes — which don’t get enough recognition. It’s that simple. Don’t overthink it.

Without further adieu….

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nj gop 30 under 30
Rosone (L), Filan (C), and Szymanski (R)

Ron Filan (28) – Since 2006, at one point or another, Toms River native and Stockton graduate Ron Filan has operated in every County south of Route 195 in some capacity. He spent much of that time as the Atlantic County Republican Party’s Executive Director in a county Republicans enjoy a comfortable majority on the Freeholder Board despite a significant registration disadvantage. He’s also performed stints with Congressman Frank Lobiondo and former Assemblyman Sam Fiochi. However, Filan’s greatest triumph came as Assemblyman Chris Brown’s campaign manager in 2015; Filan and Brown withstood a $4 million dollar barrage of attack ads courtesy of the Norcross machine in a year when Republicans lost four other Assembly seats. Brown, on the other hand, emerged as the top vote getter.

Tom Szymanski (26) – Working his way up from 2010 Runyan intern and NJ College Republican Chairman, Szymanski got his start as Runyan’s Ocean County Field Director in 2012. Shortly after that, he set up shop in neighboring Monmouth as Christie Field Director and has remained there as County Party Executive Director ever since. Szymanski’s signature achievement to date came in 2014, working for newly-elected Chairman Shaun Golden, when the County Freeholder ticket beat back an all out assault by Chairman Vin Gopal and the County Dems. Szymanski, Golden, and company are facing an even tougher fight this year against Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty (husband of deep-pocketed lobbyist and Corzine alumnus Maggie Moran).

Bill Dunne (27) – It can’t be easy working at State Party and having to deal with routine rumblings from County Chairs, elected officials, and the like, that NJGOP has checked out and does little to help candidates NOT named Chris Christie. Dunne not only deals with the criticism, his work as NJGOP Field Director helps dispel such rumblings. Dunne can almost always be found in the office or on the campaign trail on nights and weekends, and is always a phone call away for Party Chairs and operatives alike.

Sarah Neibart (24) – After a brief stint with Koch Companies Public Sector LLC, Neibart worked on Chris Christie’s presidential campaign as part of his ballot access team. She’s now Scott Garrett’s campaign manager in the thick of this cycle’s only marginally competitive New Jersey congressional contest.

Brian McGovern (29)Save Jersey Managing Editor and Archer & Greiner corporate attorney, Brian has been the major force behind Committeeman Mike Friedman’s electoral successes in Voorhees, one of the only towns in deep-blue Camden County where Republicans consistently mount competitive campaigns.

Katie Martinez
Katie Martinez

Katie Martinez (26) – A waitress at PF Changs as late as 2012, Martinez is a quick study as well as a product of the Christie machine, working her way from NJGOP intern, to Volunteer Coordinator for the Christie re-elect in 2013, to New Jersey Campaign Manager for Donald Trump, presently. Martinez has made serious connections in a short amount of time.

Ashley Rosone (23) – This past June, Rosone took the helm of the New Jersey College Republicans, and by all accounts, is the first woman to hold the post. She recently attended a Washington D.C. training hosted by none other than former Save Jersey contributor, cable news circuit veteran, and honorary Jersey Girl, College Republican National Committee Chairwoman Alex Smith. Rosone is well on her way.

Connor Montferrat (25) – A former New Jersey College Republican Chairman out of Rutgers (where he subsequently worked in the Office of External Affairs), the affable Montferrat presently serves as a councilman in Hightstown, New Jersey, an office he reached at age 22, and he’s also a recent alumnus of Jamestown consulting. During his college years, Montferrat worked on the 2013 State Senate campaign of Peter Inverso.

Matt Mowers (27) – It goes without saying that Mowers, the former Christie New Hampshire campaign manager, is still going strong notwithstanding the Governor’s epic fail in the Granite State earlier this year. Cutting his teeth in Bergen County and later in the State House, he’s currently working with fellow Christie alum Bill Stepien in the Trump field operation division.

Ben DeMarzo (29) – Mower’s long-time friend, DeMarzo served as campaign manager on U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus’ (PA) 2014 re-election after working as chief of staff to New Jersey Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick. Currently? After doing his duty as deputy state director for candidate Christie in New Hampshire, DeMarzo is back in N.J. working in the Administration.

Harrison Neely (29) – Longtime Tom Kean Jr. aide turned Congressional District 3 operative, Neely is in charge of the MacArthur re-elect in a district that gave President Obama a comfortable plurality in 2012. Neely shined in 2014 as one of MacArthur’s Burlington County field operatives. Although it looks like MacArthur, Neely & Co. have dodged a bullet this cycle by having financially-plagued candidate Frederick Lavergne opposite them, CD3 always require an active campaign.

Kevin Tober (22) – His current title is Executive Director of the New Jersey Young Republican Federation, but Tober should be better known as the “jack of all campaigns.” Tober has put in time everywhere from CD3, to County races in Burlington, Ocean, and Monmouth, as well as many municipal races. A fierce Rubio backer, Tober is spending much of his time these days organizing mobile phone banks for Rubio’s Senate re-election.

Anthony Ranucci (29) – A transplant from Presidential battleground state Ohio, Ranucci served as Field Director on Congressman Jon Runyan’s 2012 10-point re-election victory. Since then, Ranucci has split his time between government work and political work. After leaving his constituent-services post with Runyan when the former Congressman retired, Ranucci bounced up to North Jersey, where he now works as Assemblyman Erik Peterson’s Chief of Staff. He moonlights for County GOP Chairman/1868 Public Affairs Partner Pat Torpey as the Hunterdon GOP Executive Director.

via Twitter
via Twitter

Bill Killion (27) – A veteran of Assemblyman Jon Bramnick’s “Assembly Republican Victory” program, Killion left that post earlier this year, given the off year for State politics. He then traveled up the Turnpike to CD7 where he helped Congressman Leonard Lance decisively vanquish perennial self-proclaimed conservative David Larsen in this year’s Primary. Larsen had only lost by a few points to Lance in 2012, and many thought the incumbent Lance could be in real trouble headed into 2016. With the help of Killion, Lance cruised to a landslide victory, and now Killion is off to battleground-Pennsylvania, working for the Trump campaign.

Brittany Wheeler (23) – A fast riser, Wheeler made a name for herself by leading Morris Sheriff Candidate Jim Gannon to a 2-1 victory in June’s Primary. No easy task. Remember, the Morris Republican Organization does not award “the line,” and so Primary battles in deep-red Morris have historically been knock down, drag out blood baths (think Chris Christie vs. Michael Patrick Carroll in the 1990’s). Wheeler has since migrated down 287 and is operating in Somerset County, one of New Jersey’s few purple/swing counties.

Matthew Gilson
Matthew Gilson

Matthew Gilson (25) – For many years, Bergen County has been in dire need of young operatives with a killer instinct. Save Jersey contributor Gilson certainly has that in spades, and this past year he was part of the team that helped elect Paul DiGaetano as the new Chairman of the Bergen County Republican Organization. Gilson, DiGaetano, and company certainly have their work cut out for them in trying to stem the Democratic-advance in blue-leaning Bergen.

Giancarlo Ghione (24) – Out of Lyndhurst, Carlo is Treasurer for the BCYRs, and veteran of the Donovan campaign and, having worked closely with District 37’s chairman Tom Toscano, played an integral part in June’s DiGaetano victory.

Brendan Quinones (27) – State Chairman of the New Jersey Young Republicans and newly elected Co-Chairman of the Bergen County Republican Organization, Quinones has quickly found himself as a right hand man, of sorts to new Bergen Chairman Paul DiGaetano. Quinones was integral in putting together a winning coalition (including many younger supporters) for DiGaetano and new finds himself with real influence in one of the state’s most populous Republican counties.

Hank Lyon (28) – A lot of high power elected officials have stemmed from Morris County GOP politics, including our own Governor. 28 year old Hank Lyon is well on his way, having assumed a seat on the Freeholder Board in 2012 at age 24. It’s clear that Lyon is looking to expand his reach beyond Morris County – he is quite visible in GOP circles up and down the Parkway these days.

Bill Kuncken (18) – Well known by many of the Party’s top operatives and elected officials alike, it’s hard to believe that Bill Kuncken hasn’t even had the opportunity to vote yet. A Point Pleasant native, Kuncken has been a legitimate player in building the Monmouth County GOP’s field operation for two years now. Kuncken also breathed new life into the “New Jersey Teenage Republicans” by serving as their Chairman. He’s also completed internships with State Senator Jennifer Beck, Congressman Tom MacArthur, among many others.

Dennis Cherian (17) – A protege of Senator Sam Thompson and the Middlesex County Republican Organization, young Cherian is also head of the New Jersey Teenage Republicans. The group has seen a revival in recent years and plays a solid role in getting much needed volunteers to key races around the state.

J.D. Bryden (27) – Chairman at Union County NJ Young Republicans and the statewide YR organization’s 2016 ‘Man of the Year.’

Mike Hughes (27) – Getting elected in purple territory in a county with as strong a Democratic organization as Middlesex is never easy, but Hughes did that at age 21 when he was elected as an East Brunswick Councilman. His 9-5 job? Senator Jennifer Beck’s Chief of Staff. Hughes and Beck have been extremely aggressive in shoring up Beck’s position well in advance of what will likely be the State’s most competitive (and expensive) Senate race in 2017.

Tony Perry (26) – Perry’s close proximity (Director of Legislative Affairs) to elder statesman Senator Joe Kyrillos has to count for something. Perry is quite visible around the Statehouse and Monmouth County alike these days, and is quickly building a good reputation for himself.

Victoria (28) and Vinny Napolitano (29) – Another strong, female Republican from Burlington, Napolitano became Moorestown’s youngest Mayor in 2015, at just 26 years old. This year she’s serving as Deputy-Mayor. Don’t take your eye off Napolitano or her hubby Vinny, either. Husband to Deputy-Mayor Napolitano, Vinny is a veteran of the Christie Administration from the early days. As “Director of Regions and Constituencies” in the Governor’s office, few people know what makes County Party Chairs and elected officials from BOTH sides of the aisle tick better than Vinny Napolitano.

Tori Symonds (27) – Getting her start in LD11, her official title now is “Communications and Marketing Coordinator” in the Lieutenant Governor’s Office. More importantly, she frequently shadows the LG on the road and serves as a sounding board for her. Symonds is likely to hold influence in some capacity or another heading into the 2017 gubernatorial race.

Mike Whelan (25)  Whelan and running mate Mark Taylor (age 33) succeeded in giving the GOP control of the Red Bank governing body for the first time in 27 years last year when they were elected as Councilmen (Whelan by a mere 2 votes). That’s no easy feat considering Red Bank is a 2-1 Democratic town and they were up against longtime incumbent Mike DuPont, an attorney by trade and is a successful fundraiser for Monmouth Dem. Chairman and self-proclaimed boy wonder Vin Gopal.

Jedynak (center right)
Jedynak (front, third from left)

Erica Jedynak (29) – New Jersey State Director at Americans for Prosperity Foundation, the organization under Jedynak is a very different beast than during the pre-Christie vs. Lonegan era. Even the affiliate of a powerful nationwide political organization faces a challenging environment in New Jersey’s public sector PAC-dominated reality, but since taking the reins, Jedynak has turned the organization into one that is regularly showing up in regional media and to which Trenton Republicans pay attention.

Erin Darreff (23) – Erin is director of constituent relations at the Senate Republican Office. Before joining Senator Kean’s team, Darreff served as president of Rutgers-New Brunswick College Republicans. She’s very young but representative of a new generation of staff that is coming up quick.

Carly Mangini (24) – MacArthur for Congress Finance Director, Mangini formerly worked for both the Republican Governor’s Association (RGA) and the Charlie Baker for Governor finance team up in Massachusetts.

Tom Bonfonti (26) – Bonfonti is Congressman Tom MacArthur’s indispensable campaign political director.

Alyssa Lafage
Alyssa Lafage

Alyssa LaFage (28) – The South Jersey-based young mom was recently named the 8th ‘hottest’ woman in conservative media by a national publication. She also regularly contributes her musings to online right-leaning websites including Save Jersey and Wayne Dupree.

Ted Conrad (24) – As the body man and legislative aid for Tom Kean, Jr., Conrad (a veteran of the Bill Cassidy for U.S. Senate campaign) is an important part of the lead Senate Republican’s political team.

Angelo Lamberto (24) – Field director for the Burlington County Republicans who somehow continue winning despite an increasingly harsh demographic profile.

Dan Eller (26) – Hailing from Old Tappan, Eller was elected to the Northern Valley Board of Education in 2015 after serving as an aide to then-Freeholder Rob Hermansen. He’s credited with spearheading the GOTV effort for Paul DiGaetano’s BCRO conquest.

Pete Traina (28) At 28, Traina is the youngest GOP councilman in Bergen County over in Hasbrouck Heights. He was elected to council in 2015 but is rumored to be a potential legislative candidate in LD38 next fall.

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Honorable Mentions

Jesse Kurtz (Age 31) – The first Republican elected to city council in Atlantic City since… before Jesse was born? And the Cape Atlantic faculty member is already making waves with transparency-promoting reforms and, in November, a non-binding school choice referendum.

Josh Foote (Age 31) – Foote isn’t under 30 which is the only reason he’s not at the top of this list. If Chairman Bill Layton is to be credited with beating the Burlington Democrats into oblivion (Republicans control the Freeholder Board 5-0), then Foote deserves a large portion of that credit too. A Burlington operative since the late 2000’s, Foote has served as the Burlco GOP Executive Director for the last few years, where he has been a key player in a machine that has vanquished once well-established Democrats (think Aimee Belgard) in deep blue Burlington.

Rick Rosenberg (left) and Chris Russell (right)
Rick Rosenberg (left) with prominent N.J. GOP consultant Chris Russell (right)

Stephanie Fila (30) – An elder statesman type among operatives, Fila is also aged-out of our official list, having started out organizing volunteer efforts for John McCain in 2008. She rose quickly from there, playing a prominent role in the Governor’s 2009 victory over Jon Corzine. Since then, she’s served in posts at NJGOP, former Congressman Jon Runyan’s 2010 campaign, the Burlington County Republican Organization, and Joe Kyrillos’ 2012 U.S. Senate Run. Since 2012, Fila has worked as Chairman George Gilmore’s Executive Director for the Ocean County Republican Organization. Fila is not confined to Ocean County, however. As Chairman Gilmore expands his influence, Fila has played a key role in helping Republicans get elected up and down the Parkway.

Rick Rosenberg (30) – Like Foote and Fila, Rosenberg can’t be left off the list simply because he’s a few months past that age-30 threshold. Rosenberg has played a prominent role at Chris Russell Consulting for a few years now, and along with Russell, is Co-Chairman of the newly started PAC, “Solutions NJ.” The PAC is geared towards promoting local GOP candidates around the state, and is likely to play a prominent role in re-building the Republican Party wreckage left behind by Chris Christie.

Katie Gibbs (30) – Anyone familiar with conditions on the ground in Burlington County will surely recognize Gibbs’ successful election to the Freeholder Board against Democratic incumbents last year as a triumph. Previously, Gibbs has served on the Board of Trustees at Burlington County College, and has earned her stripes as a Burlington County political operative.

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