By STEVEN VIERA
Staff Writer
RED BANK – Republican Chairman Sean DiSomma announced on June 16 that he will not seek a second term as head of the party.
“My reasons really are for career and family,” he said. He explained that he has a job in New York City that requires him 100 days per year and, with a five-year-old daughter at home, he doesn’t want to “leave at 5:30 in the morning and come home at 8:30 at night.”
In April, DiSomma told colleagues that he did not intend to seek a second term as chair, but then changed his mind and reentered the running. His June 16 announcement marks the second time he has withdrawn from the race.
DiSomma became the chair of Red Bank Republicans in June 2014. Under his leadership, Republicans won a majority of seats on the Borough Council for the first time since 1991. He said that “giving Red Bank Republicans the first true victory they’ve had in 25 years by taking control of the council” was his proudest achievement as chair.
“I think this year in Red Bank, we have the two best candidates we’ve ever had for political office, and I’m excited to help them win. Moreover, the Democratic candidates they’ve put up are maybe the worst I’ve seen in maybe a generation,” he said, referring to the upcoming election for two open seats on the Borough Council. Brian Hanlon and Kellie O’Bosky Colwell are the Republican candidates for those seats, and their Democratic opponents are Erik Yngstrom and incumbent Councilwoman Kathy Horgan.
Also in the race is Cindy Burnham, the incumbent council president and an Independent. Formerly a Republican, Burnham left the party and decided to pursue a campaign as an Independent in April when DiSomma and borough Republicans did not endorse her for reelection.
Burnham and DiSomma ran for Borough Council together as Republicans in 2013, but only Burnham won her seat. DiSomma ran for council again in 2014, but he was unsuccessful once again while his running mate, Linda Schwabenbauer, won.
Following DiSomma’s announcement, Michael Clancy, who unsuccessfully ran for Red Bank Board of Education last year, declared his intent to run for party chair and secured DiSomma’s endorsement.
“[Clancy] is eager to do the job and he has my blessing to do it. I think he’s gonna be the best chairman that Red Bank has ever had,” DiSomma said.
DiSomma has said that after vacating the chairmanship, he plans on remaining involved with the local Republican Party.