TOMS RIVER, NJ – Ocean County, once one of the least-diverse counties in the state, is now embroiled in an election for county commissioner with three very diverse candidates vying for office.
On the Republican side, you will find Frank Sadeghi, an Iranian-born businessman who has sealed the endorsement of the GOP’s barely legitimate screening committee that does the bidding of GOP Chairman George Gilmore.
Challenging the GOP establishment pick is Orthodox Jewish Air Force. Colonel Menashe Miller, the former mayor of Lakewood Township.
On the Democrat side, Roxeanne Barnes, an African American woman, is challenging whichever candidate earns the GOP nomination in November. Barnes is a businesswoman and pastor from Berkeley Township.
While the GOP is embroiled in a bloodfest of a civil war, the Ocean County Democrats appear to be united behind Barnes at this time.
The warring factions on the GOP side include a rivalry straight out of the old country. Clan Gilmore is battling Clan McGuckin in open warfare being waged in nearly every municipality for control over tens of millions of dollars in lucrative public contracts and professional appointments.
Right now, Clan McGuckin controls Toms River, but Clan Gilmore is seeking to decertify the McGuckin-led Republicans of Toms River later this month, ahead of the June primary election.
Clan Gilmore leader George Gilmore has a tough battle to face, trying to convince dozens of political lackeys that make up the controversial county-council that will cast votes to decide whether or not to decertify the Toms River club.
Gilmore is reportedly trying to bar members of the county council who oppose him from voting in the GOP decertification election in a move similar to Adam Sandler’s “Real history of Baseball” skit, attempting to change the rules as the political landscape shifts.
Toms River will play an essential role in Clan Gilmore’s scorched earth war strategy to systematically exterminate all opposition to his regained leadership, so if Gilmore can disqualify the Toms River contingent from voting, his plan to rule the county might just work.
While the GOP fights amongst themselves over who has a bigger gavel, the Democrats are united behind their candidates and are hosting a campaign kickoff as a united team this week in Beachwood.