GOP hoping
to get in race
By clare MARie celano
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD — Local Republicans hope to have candidates for the Borough Council and mayor on the election ballot in November.
Although no Republican filed a petition to run for office by the April 7 filing deadline, the borough’s Republican Party chairman is hoping that on primary day, June 3, candidates will be written in who will accept the nomination and run for office this fall.
Republican Party Chairman Rob Nixon indicated that some people have expressed an interest in running, but were not able to confirm their candidacy by April 7.
"People need to be asked," Nixon said. "Local politics is not something that you just jump into without backing. I’m trying to give the people something to get behind. We’re working on it. We’re taking baby steps. We’ve had a lot of people who have expressed interest in running.
"I feel very positive about this. The future is going to be really good for us. We’ll see if the ‘willing’ are really willing. I’m putting the word out. If someone is interested in running for office, I want to talk to them," Nixon said.
In a previous article, Nixon was quoted as saying, "We, as an interested people, have an obligation to run for political office in the town. We need representation that can serve as a counter, a different voice with a different perspective. We need an alternative perspective to see that tax dollars are used wisely and to see that services are performed well."
Nixon said anyone who may be interested in running for office should contact him.
The six council seats and mayor’s office are presently held by Democrats. Council members Michael Toubin and Sharon Shutzer are seeking re-election, as is Mayor Michael Wilson, who has been mayor since April 1985.