Is Ocean County Ripe for the Taking?

by: Martin

Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 09:47:20 PM EDT

We've been talking on Blue Jersey for some time about the level of corruption and pay-to-play scandals that plague the Ocean County GOP and how political boss George Gilmore has, until recently, been able to dole out contracts for development to whomever he pleases.

Further, in a rare moment of possible Democratic victory, Richard Strada, who ran against Jim Saxton a few years ago, has a chance of  winning the mayoral race in Toms River. Further, if nothing else, Steven Morlino is running a spirited race against Robert Singer for state senate in District 30 and fighting against party bosses and special interest groups, as are other Democratic candidates running for Assembly and Senate in Ocean County districts. On the congressional level, part of Rich Sexton's cutting into the margin of Conaway's loss to Saxton included gains in Ocean County, and the DCCC is already running anti-Saxton ads there in preparation for Adler's challenge of the Bush Republican.

Then there is the case of Dems either coming close to winning seats in special elections in the past two years, or our outright victory in the South Toms River council election last year in Point Pleasant in 2004. The website cited in the previous post is called Ocean County Politics, and it does a superb job of highlighting corruption issues in the county.

To be perfectly frank, we may not win anything in Ocean County this election, but at least we'll build further grassroots efforts and infrastructure for Democrats there. But the optimist in me also says: Why the hell not make a go for it in Ocean County and direct some resources there?