The 21 County Strategy & Electing Sean Byrnes

by: Matthew Jordan

Fri Oct 23, 2009 at 01:42:14 PM EDT

When I read that the Asbury Park Press - a historically rightward leaning paper- had endorsed Sean Byrnes I was not surprised. He has the crossover appeal that makes him a rising star in New Jersey Democratic politics and will bring a fresh perspective to county government in Monmouth.      

Byrnes has been serving our country for a long time - most notably as a graduate and recently retired Commander in the US Coast Guard.  He was on active duty up until 2006 - where he was deployed to New Orleans to aid Hurricane Katrina victims. Following his graduation from the Coast Guard he worked as the Chief of Staff in the Budget Division in their Washington D.C. headquarters.  During the evening he attended Georgetown Law earning his JD. Following law school he worked at the prestigious Newark law firm McCarter English - a position he left to return to Monmouth County and start his own practice in Red Bank.

His Republican opponent John Curley wants to talk about the Middletown Sewerage Authority and his vote against Thomas Stokes being appointed as a Commissioner. What Curley fails to realize is that Byrnes votes against every Republican appointment to the Middletown Sewerage Authority because he knows its nothing but a patronage mill house for Republican cronies and political insiders in Middletown. The Sewerage Authority would make Frank Hague proud - and that is why Byrnes consistently votes 'no' on the Republican appointees. Byrnes is against allowing political appointees to exploit Middletown taxpayers by giving part time patronage positions to campaign supporters with full health benefits and a salary for attending 1 meeting a month.

So if you live in Monmouth County consider volunteering for Sean Byrnes.  It is going to be a tight race and everyone door knocked on and voter called could make the difference between winning and losing.  

If you aren't in Monmouth County maybe you could kick him a few bucks in the stretch run so he has all the resources he needs to get his message out.  I kicked him $40 over the summer - and trust me every dollar helps.  $10, $15, or $25 dollars can make a real difference.  

In closing I'll quote our good friends at the APP:

Byrnes, an attorney and Middletown township committeeman, is bright, articulate and has an uncommon grasp of issues affecting Monmouth County residents.

His review of the county budget has enabled him to pinpoint departments "ripe for cutting," and he has identified specific positions within departments that have more personnel than needed to function well. He says he will push for across-the-board 10 percent budget cuts, as well as directing some department heads to find further cuts.

A proponent of openness in government, Byrnes said he would make sure all county budget data and other information of interest to residents would be posted online. He lamented the apathy he has seen about county government, and said having more information easily available would encourage residents to get involved and provide input on ways to make government more efficient and responsive.