BY VINCE ECHAVARIA
Staff Writer
The Monmouth County GOP for Change is focused on replacing county Republican Party Chairman William Dowd June 15, and has formally endorsed Frederick Niemann as the man to fill the position.
The group was formed April 10 with the intent on bringing about change in the county party, starting with the removal of Dowd as the chairman. Since its formation, the group had not chosen a challenger to Dowd for the position he has held since 1986.
At a special meeting called by the group May 20 at the Holiday Inn, Tinton Falls, the endorsement was given to Niemann, an attorney and Wall Township Republican. Party chairmen and vice chairmen, along with trustees and regional directors of the group were invited to the closed session, and Niemann was the only candidate asked to be considered.
"Niemann has a great interest in bringing people of different interests together in a positive way," said Holmdel Township Committeeman Terence Wall, who is also the group’s communications director.
Dowd, 60, an attorney at Dowd and Reilly, Red Bank, is up for re-election June 15, and the party leaders elect a chairman every two years. The election will be held during the county party reorganization at the Garden Manor, Aberdeen, Wall said.
The primary issue for the chairmanship election is county committee turnout, and it’s important that members involved in the decision attend the meeting, Wall said.
"Change is only important when it’s for the better and we have the opportunity to make change," he said. "The level of excitement hasn’t been this high, and it should be a good turnout."
Dowd’s continued success in previous chairman elections had little to do with a positive opinion of his skills, and more to do with apathy, Wall said. The turnout at past elections was also "classically low," and this year should be the highest in many years, he said.
Dowd’s leadership came under fire by the group after he and a small group of other high-ranking county party members decided to pull support from Freeholder Edward Stominski’s bid for reelection at the June 8 primary.
Dowd and the group chose to back Matawan Mayor Robert Clifton as Freeholder Amy Handlin’s running mate, after he found out about accusations that Stominski improperly used campaign contributions over the past three years.
The decision upset the nearly 100 elected party representatives who formed GOP for change, because they were kept out of the decision-making process. Four members of the Board of Chosen Freeholders with the exception of Handlin, along with two former party chairmen, Benjamin Danskin and Frederick Kniesler, joined forces with the group April 22 in the movement to oust Dowd.
The group has already accomplished one of its goals by opening up the process in a democratic fashion, where any interested member had the opportunity to run for chairman, but Niemann was the only announced candidate, Wall said.
"He has professionalism, an understanding of the broader issues confronting the party, and understands that the party is diverse where every individual has a voice," he said. "He has a willingness to listen, an ability to bring consensus between individuals who share a different philosophy, and a willingness to embrace change."
The support for Niemann as the candidate to challenge Dowd was unanimous by the attendees at the May 20 meeting, and not a single voice of opposition was heard in the room, Wall said.
Dowd is confident he will maintain his position after the election, and said his political record is a strong enough force against Niemann.
"If they’re going to run someone, they might as well run him because he has zero experience," Dowd said. "My 17 years without losing a single election stands for something. I predict I’m going to win."
Niemann was unable to be reached for comment.
Niemann unsuccessfully ran for Monmouth County Surrogate in the past. His professional experience as a lawyer and willingness to run for chairman are more than enough qualifications for his ability to succeed, said Keyport Mayor John Merla, who is also co-chairman of the GOP group.
"He has a feel for politics and he has a grassroots idea of how things are run," Merla said. "I think it won’t even be close."
Wall agreed that Niemann has a grassroots philosophy, and knows that the county party has a tremendous amount of work to accomplish in order to be successful in the November election.
"We have a lot of work ahead of us," Merla said. "The people involved know that, and they’re willing to step up and do their part."
Freeholder Director Harry Larrison Jr., who has been a freeholder for 38 years, was the keynote speaker at the May 20 meeting of more than 75 county party leaders.
He also said it’s time Dowd is replaced because he no longer circulates among the people, and is not the same leader as he was 10 years ago. Niemann’s duties as chairman will not be the same as Dowd, he said.
"Niemann will bring more people into the circle," Larrison said. "He has been active in the party for 20 years and he knows a lot of people."
The GOP for change has a "strategic plan" in place to ensure that Niemann is successful in the June 15 election bid, Merla said. The group is confident that a new era in the county party will begin, and Dowd’s reign as chairman will soon be over, Wall said.
"People want positive actions and positive results," Wall said. "We will explain the message that local campaigns do matter, and local officials will have an organization they can count on."