If endorsements vote, Save Jerseyans, it’s hard to argue that Kim Guadagno doesn’t have a clear early edge in this year’s Republican gubernatorial primary.
She added 102 more on Friday, bringing the Lieutenant Governor’s grand total to just north of 300 elected officials and party leaders.
Today’s batch includes a smattering of South Jersey freeholders; the battle for counties below Trenton could prove critical in terms of accumulating key “line” support ahead of the June ballot.
“Like me, these leaders understand that our next governor must set better priorities in Trenton so New Jersey becomes more affordable for middle class families,” said Guadagno in a statement. “Republicans are flocking to our campaign because unlike the other candidates, I have consistently opposed raising taxes and will audit Trenton from top to bottom to root out waste, end abuse and lower costs. That’s the kind of leadership we need to make New Jersey better, and the early and strong support from these leaders will go along way to ensuring we’re successful in November.”
Guadagno’s declared opponents are Somerset Assemblyman and businessman Jack Ciattarelli, social media activist Joe Rullo and Nutley Township Commissioner Steven L. Rogers on the June ballot.
Here’s today’s list:
State Legislators:
Amy Handlin, Assemblywoman and Deputy Republican Leader (LD13)
Frank Gargiulo, Former Assemblyman (LD32)/Former Hudson County GOP Chairman/North Bergen Commissioner
County Party Leadership:
Terry Lucarelli, Atlantic County GOP Secretary
Melanie Collette, Cape May County GOP Corresponding Secretary
Timothy Donohue, Cape May County GOP Vice Chair/Middle Twp. Committeeman
John Lane, Monmouth County GOP Parliamentarian
Wayne Pomanowski, Monmouth County GOP Sergeant-At-Arms/Former Affiliated Republican Club President
County Elected Officials:
Robert Walton, Hunterdon County Freeholder
Gary Schaffer, Cape May County Sheriff
Leonard Desiderio, Cape May County Freeholder/Sea Isle City Mayor
Robert Nolan, Cape May County Undersheriff/Candidate for Cape May County Sheriff
Carman Daddario, Cumberland County Freeholder
Jim Sauro, Cumberland County Freeholder
Joseph Sparacio, Cumberland County Freeholder
Christine Giordano Hanlon, Monmouth County Clerk
Doug Painter, Salem County Freeholder
Sylvia Petillo, Sussex County Freeholder
Mayors, Council Members, and Township Committee Members:
Philip Guenther, Brigantine Mayor
Ari Bernstein, Allendale Councilman
Norman Schmelz, Bergenfield Mayor
Arthur Pazan, Glen Rock Councilman
Bill Leonard, Glen Rock Councilman
Dr. Carmine Nogara, Former Glen Rock Councilman
Bella Fellig, Former Glen Rock Councilwoman
Peter Traina, Hasbrouck Heights Councilman
Justin DiPisa, Hasbrouck Heights Council President
Ronald Kistner, Hasbrouck Heights Councilman
Russell Lipari, Hasbrouck Heights Councilman
John Glidden, Closter Mayor
Douglas Frank, Hillsdale Mayor
Adrian Febre, Maywood Mayor
Mike Ghassali, Montvale Mayor
Joseph Bianchi, North Arlington Mayor
Alan Brundage, Former Paramus Councilman
Irena Holiat, Saddle River Municipal Co-Chair
Jon Kurpis, Saddle River Committeeman
Jeff Liva, Saddle River Committeeman
Beth Dell, Westwood Councilwoman
Rudolph Boonstra, Wyckoff Mayor
Bill Davis, Millville Commissioner/GOP Municipal Leader
Jason Cilento, Dunellen Councilman
Matthew Anesh, South Plainfield Mayor
Pat Lembo, Sayreville Councilman
Jack Archibald, Atlantic Highlands Councilman
Peter Doyle, Atlantic Highlands Councilman
Donna Mazzella-Diedrichsen, Eatontown Councilwoman
Ben Lucarelli, Fair Haven Mayor
Robert Marchese, Fair Haven Councilman
Jim Daly, Farmingdale Mayor
Gregory Buontempo, Holmdel Mayor
Pauline Smith, Howell Councilwoman
Art Boden, Keansburg Councilman/Municipal Chair
Stephen Massell, Middletown Twp. Committeeman
Kevin Settembrino, Middletown Twp. Committeeman
Rick Pryor, Neptune City Councilman
Alex Tallman, Neptune City Councilman
Andrew Wardell, Neptune City Councilman
Joe Zajack, Neptune City Councilman
Barbara Shafer, Neptune City Councilwoman
Ted Wardell, Former Neptune City Mayor/Councilman
Michael Whelan, Red Bank Councilman
Lou Andreuzzi, Union Beach Councilman
Al Lewandowski, Union Beach Councilman
Mark Walsifer, Belmar Councilman
Jeffrey Carr, Toms River Councilman
Frank Matthews, Hawthorne Councilman
Charles Solimini, Hawthorne County Committee Vice Chair
Christopher Vergano, Wayne Mayor
Susan Enderly, New Jersey Federation of Republican Women Vice President Region 2 (Passaic, Bergen, Hudson)/Wayne County Committeewoman
Edward Zimmerman, Former Rocky Hill Mayor
Ellen Dickson, Former Summit Mayor
Dan Bertham, Robbinsville Councilman
Stephen Alexander, Upper Freehold Twp. Committeeman
Molly Whilesmith, Former Sparta Mayor/Councilwoman
Christine Quinn, Former Sparta Mayor/Councilwoman
Jerry Murphy, Former Sparta Mayor/Councilman
Jack Trotta, Plumsted Mayor/Republican Club President
Eric Sorchik, Plumsted Deputy Mayor/Municipal Chair
Herb Marinari, Plumsted Committeeman
Mike Wysong, Plumsted Committeeman
Tina Wetter, Waretown Mayor
Municipal Chairs & GOP Organization Leaders:
Ira Treuhaft, Former Bergenfield Municipal Chair
Joan Carlson, Ridgefield Park Municipal Chair
Dolores “Dee” Rebecky, Wallington Municipal Chair
Ray Lally, Hamilton Twp. Municipal Chair
Louise Murray, Asbury Park Municipal Chair
Jane Frotton, Atlantic Highlands Municipal Chair
Tracy Bean, Belmar Municipal Chair
Muriel Smith, Freehold Borough Municipal Chair
Carol Bucco, Highlands Municipal Chair
Steve Lambros, Millstone Municipal Chair
Jennifer DiLorenzo, Monmouth Beach Municipal Chair
Danielle Daly, Neptune Twp. Republican Club President
Tom Fitterer, Ocean Twp. Republican Club President
Bob Burlew, Affiliated Republican Club of Monmouth County President/Former Keyport Municipal Chair
Charles Smentkowski, Former Asbury Park Municipal Chair/Retired Asbury Park Police Officer/Retired Lieutenant, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office
Marcy McMullen, Holmdel Municipal Chair
Joe Cupoli, Clifton Republican Leader
Tim Troast, Pompton Lakes Republican Leader
Lydia Dodd, Waretown Municipal Chair
Joseph Speranza, Hawthorne Fire Chief
Robert Zuest, Pittsgrove Municipal Leader
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