BY DICK METZGAR
Staff Writer
Monmouth County’s Republican Party is aggressively searching for a new official leader.
Since Fredrick P. Niemann, the chairman of the Monmouth County Republican Party since June 2004, recently announced that he will not seek another term in that office, and Monmouth County Sheriff Joseph W. Oxley said he will not be running for chairman, the race for chairman of the county GOP appears to be wide open.
The party must elect a new chairman within seven days after the June 6 primary election.
Monmouth County Clerk M. Claire French confirmed that Niemann was making the rounds of top county Republican leaders, including members of the all-Republican Board of Freeholders, on May 5 to inform them that he would not be seeking re-election as chairman.
“He said he was making the rounds of Republican officials as a courtesy, including the freeholders, to let them know he would not seek another term as chairman,” French said. “There has been a lot of speculation as to who would run for chairman since then.”
Among those who have voiced interest or have reportedly indicated that they might be interested in taking over the leadership of the county Republicans are Edward S. Stominski, of Eatontown, a former Monmouth County freeholder; Mel Hood, a member of the Neptune Planning Board; Peter Carton, the Middletown Republican Party chairman; and James Giannell, the Red Bank Republican Party chairman.
Rumson Mayor John E. Ekdahl also announced that he would not run for the position, although his name had been prominently mentioned for the spot.
“I don’t feel that I would have the time necessary to devote to being chairman,” Ekdahl said. “I already have two jobs, one as mayor of Rumson and the other as a financial consultant. I don’t feel that I could take on a third job as demanding as that of party chairman.”
Ekdahl said he would support Carton for the position.
“He took over as chairman of the Two River Republican municipal group about two years ago, and that along with being the Red Bank chairman makes him a viable choice for the county position,” Ekdahl said.
Stominski and Hood said they will seek county GOP leadership as a team, one as chairman and the other as vice chairman.
“I am interested in running with him (Stominski) as a team,” Hood said. “He would run for chairman, while I would seek the vice chairman’s position.”
Stominski, who was unsuccessful in his bid for re-election to the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders in 2004, said he would very much like to take over leadership of the county GOP. Stominski is a former mayor and councilman in Eatontown.
“I definitely have an interest in becoming the new chairman,” Stominski said. “I’ve been involved in politics since the 1970s and I feel I have the experience necessary to lead the party. I still care about politics and I like to keep involved. I got to know a lot of people during the 10 years I was a freeholder. I believe I still have a lot to contribute to the party.”
Oxley said he did not believe he could do justice to his role as sheriff of the county as well as the demanding job of being chairman of the county’s Republican Party.
Until his announcement, Oxley appeared to be the favorite of county GOP leaders to assume the chairmanship of the party. He said that although he was humbled by the outpouring of support, he felt the sheriff’s office should remain free of politics.
“As sheriff I represent all residents of Monmouth County,” Oxley said. “Their safety and security is my first priority. Over the last decade I’ve kept the office of sheriff antiseptically free of politics. The administration of justice has always been fair and impartial. Similarly, hirings, firings, promotions and demotions are based on merit, not political affiliation.
“The outpouring of encouragement to seek the position of Republican county chairman from friends, colleagues and supporters was humbling,” Oxley continued. “Most important was the guidance and wisdom of my beautiful wife, Jackie. Some might be disappointed with my decision to decline the opportunity. However, everyone who admires and respects the integrity of the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office will ultimately agree that this is the proper course of action.”