Ocean county gop screening committee endorses anti-trump candidate for republican governor of new jersey

Ocean County GOP Screening Committee Endorses Anti-Trump Candidate for Republican Governor of New Jersey

March 20, 2021

TOMS RIVER, NJ – It was a dog and pony show that was pre-determined, but Ocean County GOP Chairman Frank B. Holman and his screening committee once again have endorsed a candidate that might not be very welcomed in the Trump-supporting county of Ocean.  In 2020, President Donald J. Trump defeated Joe Biden by a nearly two-to-one margin in the November mail-in ballot election.

Trump had 217,740 votes compared to Biden’s 119,456 votes countywide.

Holman and his screening committee that includes Jackson Township Mayor Michael Reina, pay to play attorney Jerry Dasti, Ocean County Commissioner Jack Kelly, Ocean County Commissioner Ginny Haines, Barbara Lanuto and other handpicked allies of Holman unanimously endorsed Jack Ciattarelli for Governor, to challenge Phil Murphy in November.

Ciattarelli has been under fire in Ocean County for several reasons.   Ciattarelli voted against two key economic Superstorm Sandy recovery bills during his tenure as New Jersey Assemblyman in the aftermath of the hurricane that devasted much of the Ocean County coastline and he has openly called President Trump a charlatan unfit to be president.

But there’s good news, candidates were all grilled by Jerry Dasti on their affiliation to Shore News Network.

“What is your affiliation to Shore News Network,” Dasti asked, the ever-so-critically important question to Trump-supporting candidate for Governor Hirsh Singh. Two members present at the interview confirmed the line of questioning.

Now, the committee decision will head to a public nominating convention on March 10th where a floor vote for Singh could once again override the screening committee, which has been essentially powerless and influential to county council members voting at the conventions since Holman took control of the party two years ago.

If left to a floor vote, Ciattarelli is in a strong position to lose, should opposing forces decide to make a statement and play against Holman, Haines, Dasti and pay to play attorney Greg McGuckin at the convention.

 

 

 

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.