GOP county chairman says party’s future is bright
Your Turn
Fredrick P. Niemann

Guest Column

These are challenging times for Monmouth County Republicans. But, fear not and do not be discouraged, for challenges offer great opportunities for inner reflection, meaningful change and positive growth. I am extremely confident that, with your help, the Monmouth County Republican Party will transform itself into a stronger, more efficient and relevant party to the people of Monmouth County. Consequently, we will achieve even greater Election Day successes than we have in the past at the local, county and state levels. Believe me, our future is bright.

Indulge me a moment if you will, as I look back over the past year since my election as Monmouth County Republican Chairman.

Together and with the help of many volunteers, professional advisers, and the generous donations of our supporters, the Monmouth County Republican party has:

• Eliminated a $30,000 debt and replaced it with a substantial surplus to assist us in our 2005 county, local, and legislative campaigns. When I became chairman, I inherited that $30,000 debt. We were “broke.” Our finance chairman, Josh Elkes, has done a phenomenal job in helping me restore fiscal stability.

• Opened up a full-time office with a friendly, welcoming atmosphere and a positive can-do attitude and staff. Your calls and visits are welcomed and encouraged.

• Computerized and networked our office with comprehensive integrated systems, hardware and communications.

• Replaced our rotary telephone (yes, we had a rotary telephone at headquarters on June 15, 2004) with a new multi-line system with high-speed Internet capability. I want to thank my technology director, Judy Lolli of Holmdel, for her great efforts.

• Designed and put into operation the most comprehensive, interactive Web site of any county political party (Republican and Democrat) in the state. Steve May of Crescent Leaf Technologies deserves credit for helping to establish this. If you haven’t registered already, please do so right now at Monmouthrepublican.org, and add in your e-mail address.

• Established more than 14 active and working committees with the dedicated purpose of assisting all our municipalities, clubs and candidates. I want to extend a sincere thank you to all of our committee chairs and volunteers.

• Provided free legal, auditing, ELEC [Election Law Enforcement Commission] compliance, technology, and record-keeping assistance to all of our municipalities at no cost or expense to your local Republican Party through our professional volunteers. Thank you to all our professionals for donating their valuable time and expertise to us.

• Established the first Multicultural Outreach Committee with the express purpose of recruiting new members of all racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

• Established regular meetings with municipal chairmen/women, local, county and state candidates, and elected officials to keep everyone informed of current happenings and to solicit their advice, comments and concerns. Our municipal chairmen and chairwomen are the backbone of our party.

• Organized and successfully directed the 2004 countywide campaign with the use of paid professionals and consultants to defeat the threatened assault upon our organization by a highly financed and organized state Democrat Party. Our county candidates won with pluralities approaching 50,000 votes, which is a recent record, and we delivered a 30,000 vote plurality to President Bush, thereby erasing a 16,000 vote loss he experienced in Monmouth County in 2000.

• Achieved unprecedented success at the municipal level. Our municipal candidates in 2004 won over 75 percent of the contested municipal races, and we achieved upset victories in such key towns as Manalapan, Marlboro, Hazlet, Manasquan, Oceanport, and big wins in such critical towns as Middletown, Howell, Holmdel, Colts Neck and many others. My commitment to our municipalities is absolute and unwavering.

• Opened up the candidate selection process to the County Committee, municipal chairs, and countywide elected officials and legislators for the first time ever in the party’s history. Never has the position of County Committee or municipal chairman/chairwoman been more significant and meaningful. You have been given a great public trust and responsibility. Because I respect the importance of the County Committee and our municipal chairmen and chairwomen, I have opened up the process for you to share with me the chance to determine who become our candidates for elected office. This means that you and I will pick our candidates together, for governor, U.S. senator, U.S. Congress, state Senate, state Legislature, Monmouth County Freeholder, and constitutional positions. All incumbent office holders will now be required to re-secure their nomination, making us more responsive, more competitive, and more relevant to the people of Monmouth County. With this honor comes an explicit and implicit obligation on your part to serve our party with diligence, loyalty and commitment. For those who do, great opportunities lie ahead. For those who sit on the side, do nothing, create dissension, and let their party down, note that changes will be made in 2006. I’m confident you will uphold your office and work hard this fall for all of our candidates.

Please continue in your support of our party and what we are accomplishing. Help us in the 2005 campaigns at all levels. Your town needs you. I need you. Get out and help our excellent Freeholder candidates, Bill Barham and Mayor Lillian Burry. Our party will continue to emphasize the “quality of life” found here in Monmouth County through 50 years of Republican leadership as well as our commitment to maintaining this quality of life in a cost-effective manner to the taxpayers of this great county.

Thank you for your support and the many kind words expressed over the past year. It’s been quite a year!

Fredrick P. Niemann is chairman of the Monmouth County Republican Organization.