TOMS RIVER, NJ – A bill in Trenton seeks to bar sheriffs from running for party chairman in county political organizations. That bill is being sponsored by Democrat leader Vin Gopal, an adversary of Monmouth County GOP Chairman Shaun Golden, who also happens to be sheriff of Monmouth County, also an elected position.
Last year, Gopal met several times publicly with Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore who is believed to be involved in Gopal’s move against Golden and possibly Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy who lost to Gilmore in last year’s GOP election.
Mastronardy lost by a slim margin to Gilmore and may even run against Gilmore in 2026, but the Gopal bill could also eliminate Gilmore’s biggest competitor in the race.
In a press conference held on Wednesday, Senate and Assembly minority leaders Steve Oroho and John DiMaio issued a stern warning about the potential consequences of proposed legislation sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal. The bill, which aims to prohibit county constitutional officers from serving as county party leaders, has drawn criticism from Oroho and DiMaio, who argue that it will undermine the integrity of the electoral process rather than prevent conflicts of interest.
Describing the bill as a manifestation of “naked political partisanship,” Senator Oroho (R-Sussex) emphasized the pressing issues facing the people of New Jersey, such as escalating property taxes, diminishing school aid, and soaring energy costs. He urged legislators to prioritize addressing these concerns instead of engaging in partisan games and attempting unconstitutional power grabs.
Gilmore has denied any involvement in the legislation and Gopal denies he is coordinating his bill with Gilmore, but the two are close political allies. In March, Gilmore took a job with a Democrat lobbying firm run by Phil Norcross, brother of Democrat powerbroker George Norcross. Gilmore is the chairman of the Ocean County GOP organization.
The legislation in question, identified as A5429/S3838, is set to undergo consideration in the Senate and Assembly judiciary committees on Thursday. Its primary target is the constitutional officers of Monmouth County, including Sheriff Shaun Golden, who happens to be a political rival of Senator Gopal. If passed, the bill would force these officers to resign from either their elected public office or their party leadership positions.
According to Assemblyman DiMaio (R-Warren), the bill represents a blatant conflict of interest, with the Senate sponsor being the sole beneficiary of its implementation. He argued that the true motive behind the legislation is to stifle Republican voters, allowing Democrats to maintain their hold on power in competitive districts leading up to the upcoming election season. DiMaio accused Democrats of exploiting their legislative privilege to consolidate political power, labeling their actions as a blatant display of corruption.
It is worth noting that county political party chairs are elected through internal votes within their respective parties. Furthermore, the state Constitution grants the people of each county the authority to elect their county officers, highlighting the importance of local democratic processes.