Republican Sue Kiley of Hazlet and Democrat Mike Beson of Ocean Township have announced their intention to run for a three-year term on the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners this year.
There are five members of the board (formerly the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders; the name changed in January). All five commissioners are elected at large by voters in the county’s 53 municipalities.
Republicans hold a 5-0 majority on the board.
Kiley, who is serving the final year of her first three-year term on the board, and Beson issued press releases which state they will seek the nomination of their respective political party at conventions to be held in March.
The seat held by Kiley is the only term on the board that will be on the ballot in November. The other county commissioners are Tom Arnone of Neptune City, Lillian Burry of Colts Neck, Ross Licitra of Marlboro and Nick DiRocco of Wall Township.
Beson is a small business owner in Monmouth County. His company, Guide Publications, specializes in online recruitment tools that match job-seekers with new careers.
In the area of public service, Beson previously served as the mayor of Neptune Township and on the Township of Ocean Schools Board of Education.
Kiley joined the county governing body in January 2019. She is the board’s liaison to the Monmouth County Human Services Department. Kiley has served as the board’s deputy director in 2020 and 2021.
Prior to her election to a position in county government, Kiley served on the Hazlet Township Committee as a committeewoman, deputy mayor and mayor.
Kiley’s professional background includes a 30-year career in the healthcare industry,
first as a registered nurse and then in healthcare sales.