Disgraced Freeholder John P. Curley
Disgraced Freeholder John Curley will not be on the ballot on Saturday, February 3 when the Monmouth County Republican Committee selects its nominee for the freeholder seat that he currently holds.
Sue Kiley, the Deputy Mayor of Hazlet, is the only candidate for the nomination who submitted a letter of intent on time and with the required number of signatures from County Committee members per the Party By-Laws.
The letters of intent with the required signatures were due in Monmouth County Republican Headquarters on January 20, per the Party By-Laws. As an incumbent, Curley was required to attach the signatures of 25 County Committee members endorsing his candidacy to his letter. The disgraced freeholder submitted a letter of intent to run for reelection without any attached signatures. His letter was dated January 17 and was received on January 22.
GOP Chairman Shaun Golden responded to Curley’s letter on January 25:
Dear Mr. Curley,We have received your letter dated 1/17/18. Please be advised that according to the Monmouth County Republican Committee By-Laws, which has been, for years, a public document on the Monmouth County Government website, the deadline submission for letter of intent and petition signatures was January 20th.
According to Article IV, Section 9 of the Monmouth County Republican Committee By-Laws, “When running for a County seat as an incumbent, endorsements from twenty-five (25) voting members of the County Committee must be attached to a letter of intent.”
Public notice of the convention was provided. Since you did not submit the required petition signatures, you will not be able to stand for nomination at the Monmouth County Republican Committee Convention.
Curley can’t plead ignorance of the By-Laws. In an email to Golden dated January 26, Curley stated he was aware of his rights under the Party rules:
Dear Chairman Shaun Golden,
I am reaching out to you in my fourth attempt since my first three have gone unanswered. (1) A certified letter with date of received January 22nd -10:15 am (2) A letter sent ground mail to Republican Headquarters in Colts Neck on January 18th (3) A phone call to Republican Headquarters on January 23rd at 10:19 am.
I have every intention of running in the upcoming November 2018 election for the Republican Nomination. As provided to me in the past, I am requesting the proper information on the process to participate in the convention held on February 3, 2018 held at I Play America in Freehold, NJ.
I am hoping this is an oversight on your end since as per party by-laws I am well with in my rights.
I would appreciate an immediate response!
Sincerely,
John P. Curley
As a non-incumbent, Kiley was required to get the endorsement of 40 County Committee members. She submitted a letter of intent on time with more than enough signatures.
The GOP County Committee will convene on Saturday, February 3, 9 a.m., at iPlayAmerica in Freehold Township. In addition to nominating a freeholder for a full three year term, the committee will elect a freeholder to fill the vacancy created by Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso’s resignation from the Freeholder Board upon taking office in Trenton.
If he continues to seek reelection to the seat he currently holds, Curley could file to challenge Kiley in the June 5 primary or he could file to run as an Independent candidate. According to Democrat sources, securing the Democrat nomination is not an option for Curley.
There is another —long shot– way for Curley to salvage his political career. He could resign from the Freeholder Board and compete at the convention for DiMaso’s seat.
The filling of vacancies is governed by state law–Title 19–not the Party By-Laws. Theoretically, Curley still has time to get on the ballot to fill the vacancy created by DiMaso’s resignation.
Curley was Censured and Reprimanded by the Board of Chosen Freeholders for sexually harassing County employees and other atrocious behavior on December 8, 2017 following a five month investigation into an employee complaint and his confession to other incidents. Retired Acting Supreme Court Justice Mary Catherine Cuff conducted the investigation. Cuff is currently investigating new complaints that have been brought forward since she submitted her report last fall.
The disgraced freeholder has sued in federal court to keep Cuff’s report from being released to the public. The litigation is in its early stages. Curley has resisted calls from the public to release the report.