 PolitickerNJ reports that the Ocean County Republican party will nominate Ocean County freeholder John P. Kelly as their candidate for the seat being vacated by Rep James Saxton.
In 2005 when Lieutenant Laurel Hester was dying of lung cancer and asked the county to allow her to pass her pension on to her domestic partner, Mr. Kelly was the freeholder who said it would "violate the sanctity of marriage" and that the estimated 45 cent tax increase on county residents was a tremendous cost. The Asbury Park Press rightfully slammed him on both counts.
After months of lobbying and enormous political pressure, the five-member board of freeholders relented, and voted 4-0 to grant county employees domestic partner benefits. Laurel Hester won, just weeks before she died. The only freeholder to conveniently miss the vote: John Kelly. Some reports said he was out of the state at the time. But the freeholder board has this strange fixation with always appearing "unified", and it's widely understood that Kelly was at home hiding - too cowardly or ashamed to face a frail but triumphant Lt Hester.
In a state that provides civil unions and is considering moving forward with real marriage equality, John Kelly is a relic of an intolerant past. It's really sad if that's the best the Ocean County GOP has to offer. |
