LAKEWOOD, NJ – United States Air Force Lt. Colonel Menashe Miller, a veteran of the Global War on Terror (GWOT) has announced he is challenging GOP-selected candidate Frank Sadeghi, an Iranian-born developer, for a seat on the Ocean County Board of Commissioners.
Both men are seeking the Republican party’s convention nomination to replace retiring Commissioner Joe Vicari. Vicari announced he was not running for re-election amid several sexual harassment lawsuits.
Miller, now a committeeman in Lakewood Township and former mayor of the township, announced his challenge to the GOP establishment on Monday.
Last weekend, Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore announced his support for Island Heights resident Iranian-born Frank Sadeghi, an engineer and developer as the preferred nominee for the party.
Sadeghi will still have to win the party’s support at the GOP convention in March to be the official candidate.
Miller, who served two tours of duty during the U.S. Global War on Terrorism, is currently an officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. In 2010, he was deployed to Iraq. After his deployment, he was promoted to major. Miller was deployed to the Middle East a second time in Qatar in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
His opponent, Frank Sadeghi, according to the New Jersey Globe was born in Iran and came to America with few possessions. He now runs a successful engineering company and development business.
Sadeghi was handpicked by GOP Chairman George Gilmore as his successor to the OC GOP Chairmanship after Gilmore resigned due to a federal conviction by the Department of Justice. Sadeghi lost his election for chairman to Frank B. Holman.
Last year, Holman dropped out of politics, and Gilmore, now pardoned by President Donald J. Trump regained his former position, defeating Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy in 2022.