BRICK TOWNSHIP, NJ – Deals are being made left and right across Ocean County as GOP Chairman George Gilmore continues to purge political opposition countywide.
Rumors swirled over the winter that both Assemblyman Catalano and Greg McGuckin would be sacrificed to make way for candidates loyal to the chairman. This week, Catalano announced he would not be seeking an election to state office after a rather uneventful first term in office.
Instead, Catalano will run for Mayor of Brick Township. An ally of former Brick Township Steven Acropolis, Catalano will seek to replace Mayor John Ducey, who was nominated to serve as a judge by Governor Phil Murphy.
Democrats have controlled Brick since the downfall of the Acropolis regime nearly a decade ago.
In response to the announcement, the Ocean County GOP has extended applications to be screened for office until February 14.
It is expected that Gilmore will also oppose the re-election of Greg McGuckin. However, the two bitter rivals have spoken recently to discuss options. Those discussions were not made public.
At this time, it is not sure whether or not the Gilmore-McGuckin feud will lead to the primary election in Brick Township as it has triggered in other towns in November’s election. In November, Gilmore defeated McGuckin in Manchester but lost to McGuckin in Jackson Township.
In 2023, the pair will battle in Brick, Toms River and Berkeley Township. It is also rumored that they could also spar over 10th legislative district elections and the lone county commissioner seat to be vacated by 40 year office holder Joe Vicari.