Candidate screening gets support

The Western Monmouth Republican Conference - made up of GOP representatives from the western part of the county - said last week it is endorsing the concept of the Republican candidate screening committee.

Conference Chairman John Costigan, of Howell, said, "Those who wish to represent us as legislators, freeholders or county officials must be above reproach. This screening process gives us that assurance."

In defense of the process, former Millstone Township municipal chairwoman Diane Morelli said most of corporate America employs the same type of background checks before hiring prospective employees.

"It is becoming an extremely important hiring tool among the corporate entities in today's business world," Morelli said.

Manalapan municipal chairman Steve McEnery asked, "Why should we as taxpaying, law-abiding citizens expect less of our elected officials than we do of our business leaders, school teachers and camp counselors? We should expect more from the guardians of our tax dollars, not less. If prospective candidates are afraid of a background check, how can we possibly vote for them?"

Costigan said there has always been a history of a fair and deliberative screening process employed by the Monmouth County Republicans.

"I was part of that screening process in 1974 when the then county chair, Ben Danskin, formed the screening committee for our congressional candidates. ... The current screening committee is just another form of the same process the Republicans have been using all along," he said.

Colts Neck Mayor James Stuart, vice chairman of the Western Monmouth Republican Conference, said, "Any candidate that is running for public office should not object to being vetted as proposed by Chairman Adam Puharic in this election cycle."

The Republican candidate screening process has been the subject of debate in recent weeks as some Republicans said they were planning to seek office but would not go along with the screening process that has been put in place by Puharic.