JACKSON-When Frank B. Holman, III, of Lacey Township put his hat in the ring between the Jackson Township municipal government and Agudath Israel of America, a Jewish civil rights organization that defends Jews nationwide against anti-Semitism, many in town were left scratching their heads.
Who is Frank Holman and why is he inserting himself in the middle of a legal battle in Jackson Township?
You may recognize the surname Holman if you live in Jackson. The local elementary school near Robbins Estates is named after Lucy N. Holman. There’s also Holmansville, a historic part of Jackson along East Veterans Highway between Whitesville Road and Bennetts Mills Road. You may even Remember Frank Holman’s father, Frank Holman, Jr., he was once mayor of Jackson and served as the Chairman of the New Jersey Republican Party.
Holman passed away in 2005 in Lakewood from throat cancer associated with his passion for smoking cigars. He was, by all accounts a gentleman and a shrewd politician. Holman built a political empire for his family which has transcended down to his son, Frank B. Holman, III’s accounting firm Holman, Frenia, Allison P.C. The firm reels in over $6,000,000 annually in public patronage and politically affiliated contracts, especially in Jackson Township and Lakewood.
Holman left Jackson Township many years ago, but still has a financial and political stake in the happenings of the community.
Holman’s feet are dipped in the pool at both ends and that’s not only creating a political situation for the newly elected Ocean County GOP Chairman, but it could soon have a financial impact on his firm’s business. Holman has been asked to take sides. Lakewood politicians have asked Holman to intervene in what they feel has been out of control and blatant anti-semitism by township officials.
Township officials have called upon Holman to “call off the dogs”, knowing of his relationship with the Orthodox Jewish community. Last year, it was Lakewood’s block vote who solidified Holman’s seat as the new chairman of the Ocean County Republican Party. Across the border, Lakewood has called upon Holman to put his Jackson GOP party in line and cease their anti-Semitic agenda.
Orthodox Jews have called for the resignation of Jackson GOP Municipal Chairwoman Clara Glory and even Mayor Michael Reina. Holman has said many times, his lifelong friendship with Glory prevents him from taking action against her, not to mention her fierce loyalty to Holman during the GOP’s yearlong battle with itself. Glory rallied support in Jackson for Holman, eventually leading to his nomination by the club over Frank Sadeghi in the 2019 chairman’s race.
Glory rules Jackson with an iron fist. There’s no room for dissension or opposition to her views. Recently her GOP club tried to adopt a bylaw that made criticism of the party an offense punishable by excommunication from the Republican party. She controls the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and the Jackson MUA.
Holman may have left Jackson decades ago, but his company still makes a huge profit annually from contracts with various township entities.
Holman’s firm earns $16,100 annually from Jackson Fire District #3. He brings in $10,750 from Fire District #4 each year. Jackson Township itself pays Holman $52,00 annually for his accounting services. Clara Glory’s MUA funnels Holman $28,850 each year to his firm.
That’s $98,000 per year on the line if Dr. Richard Robert’s mission against the Jackson Township Republican Club succeeds and somehow Clara Glory, Mayor Michael Reina, and the fire commissioners are all voted from office. It’s no wonder why Holman seeks peace because the battle between the Jackson GOP and the Orthodox Jewish community can have a serious hit on Holman’s annual public contract cashflow.
Clara Glory celebrating the victory of Frank B. Holman III in Toms River.
Holman’s interests go beyond his own. Holman now leads the political pay to play syndicate which takes over $4,000,000 in public funds in Jackson and funnels that money to his high-powered consultant friends, including the law firm of Dasti, McGuckin, and Murphy who not only represents Jackson as general legal counsel but also represents Lakewood’s zoning board.
Holman’s firm also holds three public contracts in Lakewood including an $80,000 annual contract from the township’s municipal government. He holds a public contract with the Lakewood Township School District which nets him $65,000 per year.
Combined, Holman is earning a quarter of a million dollars annually between his contracts in Lakewood and Jackson and while both sides are battling each other, he has become caught in the middle with his position as GOP Chairman and if a settlement is not on the horizon, Holman will undoubtedly be forced to take sides in the battle.
So, when Holman called upon Dr. Richard Roberts to seek a path for mediation between the township and Agudath Israel of America, neither the interests of Jackson or Lakewood were on the table, but the financial interests of Frank B. Holman, III and his partners in the public contract syndicate which enriches itself far and wide across all of Ocean County and beyond.
Holman has refused multiple phone calls on this matter.
