With gilmore back, haines and co. Move quickly to execute high-level county patronage hirings
Ocean County Freeholder Virginia Haines, who is also a Republican National Committee member has been one of Holman's strongest and most public supporters. Haines has publicly endorsed Holman and has been soliciting support for the politically appointed accountant to replace indicted former party Boss George Gilmore, also a close ally to Haines.

With Gilmore Back, Haines and Co. Move Quickly to Execute High-Level County Patronage Hirings

TOMS RIVER, NJ – Reeling from a major political defeat, the members of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners are reportedly expediting the process to hire retired State Police officer Tristin J. Collins to replace current County Administrator Carl Block.

Collins, who was criticized for receiving preferential treatment by Virginia Haines, who passed along handwritten notes to the other commissioners, urging them to hire Collins, is reportedly getting fast-tracked. This comes as Ocean County Republicans voted to elect George Gilmore to become the new chairman of the county organization.

Gilmore questioned Haines on the odd hiring of Collins and why no other people were being interviewed for the important job. Collins received a personal tour of the county offices by administration executives. Haines, at the time, lied and said she never recommended him for the job.

Days later, Shore News Network received a handwritten memo written by Haines to the other members of the Board of Commissioners urging them to back her guy for the job.

No other candidates were interviewed. The job was never publicly posted.

Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore is an ally of outgoing administrator Carl Block. The move to speed up the hiring of Collins is similar to the reappointment of Jackson Mayor Michael Reina last week to an unheard-of five-year, six-figure contract as bridge supervisor in the county.

Also, Haines’ faction Republicans are seeking to replace retiring Steve Scaturro, Director of Ocean County Consumer Affairs, and awarding that job to New Jersey Assemblyman John Catalano.

These rushed appointments come just days after Sheriff Michael Mastronardy was defeated by Gilmore a week ago in the Ocean County GOP chairman’s election.

After the election, Haines led a plundering of party resources and facilities, shutting off the OCGOP website, deleting GOP email accounts, and removing items she claims were personal belongings from the party headquarters in Downtown Toms River.

Shore News Network

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.