By Charles Layton
District leaders of the Neptune Township Democratic Party voted Saturday not to back incumbent Mary Beth Jahn for reelection to the Township Committee.
The party chose instead to go with Nick Williams, a former school board member and the current chairman of the Neptune Housing Authority.
The action came at a meeting of the local party’s 35 district leaders at Mom’s Kitchen. However, the vote does not mean Jahn won’t be on this spring’s primary ballot; it is a recommendation to the County Democratic Party and its chairman, Victor Scudiery, who will ultimately decide who get’s the “line” — i.e., the party’s official blessing — in a primary race.
In addition to Williams, the local party voted to recommend incumbent Dr. Michael Brantley. The seats of both Brantley and Jahn are up for grabs this year. Whichever two Democratic contenders end up on the general election ballot this fall are considered likely to win, given the Republicans’ relatively weak position in Neptune. The vote by the Democrats’ district leaders was evidently quite close. One source told us that Brantley came in only one vote ahead of Jahn. (The party’s municipal chairman, James Mowczan, told us the vote tally was not made public, and that he didn’t know how close it was.)
When contacted by Blogfinger on Saturday, Jahn did not wish to comment, except to say, “My interests always lie with what’s best for Neptune.” Her colleague on the Township Committee, Mayor Randy Bishop, also declined to comment. Bishop nominated Jahn and spoke on her behalf at Saturday’s meeting.
What happens next is complicated. In order for Jahn to get on the Democratic primary ballot, she must submit a petition with at least 18 signatures. County chairman Scudiery does not decide which of the two contenders, Jahn or Williams, goes on the primary ballot — they both do — but Scudiery does decide which of them gets the endorsement of the party establishment. This is considered quite important, as it determines which candidate gets the more favored ballot position.
The New Jersey primary elections are scheduled for June 5. Only persons registered with a given party may vote in that party’s primary.
UPDATE, Sunday, March 25: In response to speculation on this website as to the reason for Saturday’s action, Jahn wrote that it was prompted by “my refusal to hire an unqualified former Township Committee member” to replace Neptune Business Administrator Phil Huhn, who plans to retire later this year. That former Committee member is James Manning Jr., who has expressed interest in the job. It had been announced that the Township Committee would hold a special meeting last Tuesday to interview candidates, including Manning. However, that meeting was suddenly cancelled without public explanation. To read about Manning and the job position, go here. To read Jahn’s complete statement on that subject, see the comments string to this article.
Meanwhile, in an interview on Sunday, the Neptune Democrats’ municipal chairman, James Mowczan, said he felt sure the leadership of Monmouth County Democrats would not go against the wishes of the Township’s party leaders. “It’s pretty much a done deal that they [Nick Williams and Michael Brantley] will get the party line,” he said. In the years Vic Scudiery has been the county leader, Mowczan said, “he’s never gone against the recommendation of the locals.”
If Mowczan is correct, the June 5 primary ballot would list Williams and Brantley as the endorsed representatives of the Democratic Party. Any other candidate (which is to say, Jahn) would be listed lower on the ballot, a significant disadvantage, he said.
Asked about Jahn’s statement that the local party turned against her over the question of whether James Manning would be the Township’s next business administrator, Mowczan said he hadn’t heard anything about that. “I don’t think it was anything against Mary Beth as much as it was for Nick Williams,” he said.
He said it was “not common” for local party leaders to oppose the candidacy of an incumbent, but that it was also “not unheard of.”
Further update: After reading the above comments, Mary Beth Jahn said that Mowczan told her he was allowing the challenges to her seat “because I did not give him a promise to support Jim Manning for business administrator.”
@ confused -ask the people who live in mid town why he is still there, where he gets 95% of vote total I wonder why????????????
OK …7:30 in front of Nagle’s for the petition signing party.
Sidewalk in front of Nagle’s at 7:30PM works for me.
How about the sidewalk in front of Nagle’s? I don’t believe they are open tonight.
Cat, how about somewhere on Main Av.
Will come for sure.
Ken
I have observed committeeman Brantley for a while now, and in my opinion he has added nothing to the township. He doesn’t get involved with twp. departments, or learn their functions (or employees). He certainly hasn’t made any significant changes in town or administration policies. I just don’t understand why people think he is one of the best candidates. What exactly has he contributed???
If anyone in Ocean Grove would like to sign Mary Beth’s petition for inclusion on the ballot, I will be in Ocean Grove around 7:30 this evening. Perhaps we can set up an agreed-upon meeting place.
@The Maxster – No, they aren’t. Democratic party leaders are elected by people who go to political club meetings – they are the ones who decide who is the club president, etc. They also decide who is the township chairman. Most Neptune voters don’t even know these clubs exist. (And some who do know they exist want absolutely nothing to do with them.) So in essense you have the same twelve people from time immemorial deciding who runs.
Am I supposed to just accept that Republicans would operate any differently than Democrats? Really? Now, if an INDEPENDENT were to run, that might make a difference.
Actually, Independent & Disgusted, the party leaders ARE elected by people elected by the voters.
THE PROBLEM IS, that those elected officials keep electing bad party leaders.And then again, people keep on electing Democrats in this town because the Democrats keep pulling the wool over people’s eyes and the people act like gullible lemmings.
when political bosses try to control our elected officials that represents the worst of our political system…when the voters strike back…that represents the best…
Whether you like Ms. Jahn or not is not the issue. The issue is that party leaders (Republican and Democrat) — who are not elected and who most people do not know and who are basically untouchable — control who are our politicians and who are not. And a lot of times those decisions are not made based on what is for the general good or even the good of the party but what is good for the party leaders. Cronyism rules in these cases. Seriously, how much “party” politics are there in politics on this level and how much is based on controlling power for the good of a few? I love my state and my town but I hate my state and local politics.
North Ender NOT SO QUICK. Nothing at the North End was done on a legal basis, residents weren’t even notified by certified mail, it is not a blighted area, there are just over 3 acres not 5 acres, you cannot take Green Acres property, there is 33 feet from the wall that is Green Acres property all the way to Beach and farther. So have faith.
Charles, just an idea perhaps – obtaining a copy of the job ad for the Township Administrator position to see what qualifications are required. There is a chance, I imagine, the job ad was written in a way to better fit Mr. Manning for the position. But either way it’d be interesting to take a look at.
Well, looks like the North End project is a done deal. Lord knows Jimmy Manning can’t say no to a Gannon.
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This looks like a pathetic and embarrassing display of cronyism. Whatever your opinion of Mary Beth Jahn, she certainly deserves better than this. The people of Neptune deserve better than this.
The position of Township Business Administrator is far too important to Neptune to be used as a pat on the back for an old buddy, and to threaten the position of one of the few actively contributing Township Committee members for not “playing along” is disgraceful.
Why isn’t every member of the Township Committee openly supporting Ms. Jahn?
Mary Beth was the only one who stood against the proposed North End development. This slap in the face REEKS of Neptune Cronyism. Go Mary Beth! Do you think Nick Williams is going to stand up for the Grove or bring in the bulldozer? MaryBeth deserves the nomination!
@Wondering Why?
“How is her attendance record at Township meetings?”
Better than Dr. Brantley’s, not as good as Dorothy Argeros. If that’s what you’re basing things on, vote for Dorothy Argeros.
“Does she EVER??? go to town functions?”
Yup, seen her out quite a bit. Midtown Clean Up Day. Shark River Home Owners. Easter Egg Hunts. Senior Center Christmas and Thanksgiving meals. And is that what this job is about? Kissing babies and smiling for pictures? I thought it was about delivering the best services for the least amount of money. I know in a bad economy our town’s credit rating went up. I know in a state where funds are hard to come by, the town’s getting grants. I’m pretty sure this is what the job is about, not glad-handing people.
“Canceled the Mayors Ball, which is just a fund raiser for local town groups?”
Canceled it after laying off municipal employees. Because she has a modicum of class. Why don’t you ask how much money some past Mayor’s Balls have cost the township? I’d say ask Dr. Brantley, but I doubt he’d know the answer.
“The higher ups in the Democratic party said ‘Lets get someone else.’ To me, a local Neptune resident for years but an independent, that speaks volumes.”
No, they didn’t. The higher ups said, “Why aren’t you hiring Jimmy Manning?” Because Jimmy Manning IS the higher ups. You think Jim Mowczan cooked this plan up on his own? You obviously don’t know him very well.
And I say this as a DEMOCRAT.
Didn’t Neptune Township learn enough with the huge FBI busts a few years ago?? Wasn’t that embarrassing enough? Now they are going to hire Manning, who does not have the proper education nor credentials for the Township Administrator position?!?! Nepotism is no longer acceptable, its a big no-no. Kudos to Mary Beth Jahn who’d rather stand by her principals and refuse to tow the party line. Charles, please bring this story to the attention of the Asbury Park Press and the Newark Star-Ledger. This b.s. has to stop! And I am a registered DEMOCRAT. Shame on you Neptune Democratic Party. Shame on you Jim Manning.
Just how stupid do Mr. Mowczan and the Neptune Township Democratic Party district leaders think the residents of Neptune are? We can only trust that the leadership of the Monmouth County Democrats support MBJ, who holds the best interests of residents more important than kowtowing to local party leaders.
Unafiliated.
Nick WIlliams is on the Housing Board serving with Jim Manning Sr. Nick Williams was the contact person for the money-raising retirement party given to Jim Manning not long ago. Nick Williams briefly worked at Jersey Shore Hospital up until the day before the hospital bought the John Knox apartments (from the Housing Board). I cannot imagine why the Neptune Democrats want to replace an easily re-electable incumbent with Nick Williams, especially with Jim Manning Jr. in line for the Administrators job. Huh….
Hmmmm … hire an unqualified person to fill an important government position … What? You’d think this is New Jersey or something! Oh wait, it is. Never mind.
Charles,
Thank you for your fine reporting and important update. All the more reason to get out and vote for Mary Beth on June 5.
You got it Bullets!
So MBJ gets shafted because she won’t go for J. Manning to replace P. Huhn, they put N. Williams in, who is buddy buddy with J. Manning and will give him the BA job even though he has no qualifications for it?
Just to clear up a misperception, Randy Bishop and Eric Houghtaling have been 1,000% supportive of me through this process. The catalyst for this situation was my refusal to hire an unqualified former Township Committee member for the Business Administrator position that will be open when Phil Huhn retires. You may read into that what you wish.
Added later: I was told by Neptune Democratic Executive Committee Chairman Jim Mowczan that he was allowing the challenges to my seat because I did not give him a promise to support Jim Manning for business administrator. — Mary Beth
Thank you Ann Marie McCarthy for your post which I wholeheartedly agree with. And thank you over and over to MBJ for your continued service to this township and yes the Grove. You continue to be a valuable asset to us and I expect to see you continue in your very important role.
Yes Ken, something does “smell.”
While the Democrats seem to have a “plethora” of candidates, it seems that the Republicans have no bench because they are demoralized after years of losses. After all, running as a Republican would seem to be like “running into a buzz saw.”
Anyone have any idea on who the Republicans are putting up as this year’s sacrificial lambs?
Just answering questions on this blog which supports O.G. is not a reason for Dems to put her back on the ticket. There must be much going on behind the “scenes” for this to happen. How is her attendance record at Township meetings? Does she EVER??? go to town functions? Canceled the Mayors Ball, which is just a fund raiser for local town groups? The higher ups in the Democratic party said “Lets get someone else.” To me, a local Neptune resident for years but an independent, that speaks volumes.
Neptune’s real election is being held on June 5th because everyone knows that the new Neptune demographics leave no doubt as to who will win in November’s general election. I’m a bit confused by comments about “centrist Democrats values” when there is nothing locally that deals with national Democratic values. Local politics is a matter of two “teams” and future politicians decide which team they care to align with and who’s butts they wish to kiss on the way to the Committee. Its a popularity contest, plain and simple.
Ms. Jahn has always favored OG over the rest of Neptune and she deserves our support for that. She rarely is seen west of Neptune Blvd and I recall she even labeled all of Shark River Hills homophobes once because of the views of the Homeowner Association president. Dr. Brantley is not the lightning rod for controversy that Ms. Jahn is and the democratic party may want to go that direction now that it appears a 5 – 0 majority is all but assured moving forward.
I saw the Neptune republicans just this week begging for candidates in the Asbury Park Press and apparently on their own website too. Not sure which is more telling about the future of Neptune politics, a brokered Democratic convention or a broken Republican convention.
I agree with Jan. I also agree with Ken. MBJ has kept us informed, but that’s about it. She has done nothing constructive other than tell us what’s going on. Telling us who proposed what, or what’s the current state of a proposal isn’t why we’ve elected officials – we can get a reporter to do that.
I want someone in office who develops ideas, proposals and solutions to all the issues we face – and MBJ is miserably weak in that department!
the good old boy network is alive and well in neptune…and i thought we were better then that…oh well…silly me
good luck mary beth
Mary Beth is outstanding.
Perhaps the Neptune Democrats feel she is not liberal enough in her approach to governing. Being a common sense, pragmatic, centrist Democrat is not what the party is looking for anymore.
Ocean Grove needs to support Mary Beth in every way possible, and all Democrats and Independents in the Grove (and elsewhere) need to be at the polls for the June 5th primary to vote for her. Mary Beth deserves our full backing. MB- I’ll be there for you on the 5th of June. Thank you for everything you have done for the Grove.
Even though I have (sort of) crossed swords with Ms Jahn over one particular issue, I believe she has done a superb job, especially in stepping forward to engage the public in a highly informed, articulate, and responsible manner. A decision not to back her is, frankly, incomprehensible and suggests old-style back-room politics trumping common sense.
What a reward for the ONLY Township Committee person who has kept us in Ocean Grove informed of what was really going on and answered all the questions and issues brought up by the residents AND she doesn’t even live in OG. What could have prompted the votes against? Can we learn who they were? And WHY? Sure smells.
A registered INDEPENDENT, ken.
GREAT NEWS. The people of O.G. and Neptune need to keep the ball rolling and get rid of all those politicians that say they have their interest in O.G. and have done nothing to maintain our quality of life except to burden us with the lack of parking, higher density, and taxes.