John Kelly 
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Fri May 30, 2008 at 06:41:50 PM EDT
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In the 3rd Congressional District, voters for John Kelly will have to search real hard to even notice that he is on the ballot. Kelly is out by himself in column 5, about as close to the other candidates on the ballot as Ocean County is to Cherry Hill, the eastern edge of the Congressional District... 
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Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 08:57:29 PM EST
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 Oh, I can't wait for the President to come to town...Despite his low approval ratings, President Bush will still be welcome on the campaign trail for Republican congressmen in 2008, said Rep. Tom Cole, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC). So here's the question, will he be welcome and invited to campaign for the challengers in NJ-3 and NJ-7? Let's see how NJ voters currently feel about their fearless leader...Only a fifth (20%) say they approve of the job President Bush is doing, a seven point drop from October. And stark partisan differences are evident, with just 4 percent of Democrats approving of President Bush but about half of Republicans approving of him (48%). Do you think Chris Myers, John Kelly, Kate Whitman and Leonard Lance want the President to come join them on the trail and "give them a boost"? Maybe someone should ask them.
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Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 09:04:25 PM EST
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( - promoted by njdem)
Tonight, the Ocean County GOP had its say...Ocean County Republicans today picked Freeholder John Kelly as their candidate for Congress. Kelly, who was backed by the party screening committee on Saturday, won unanimously after Freeholder Joseph Vicari dropped out. This sets up a battle of the bosses with Gilmore backed Kelly facing off against Paulsen backed Myers. State Chair Tom Wilson for his part has decided that issues don't really matter and it's all about the Benjamin's...Campaign donations could help settle the contest between Burlington and Ocean counties, according to Republican state chairman Tom Wilson.
"Fundraising is a huge part of it," Wilson has said.
With his corporate ties, many expect Myers could raise big money before the primary election.
Paulsen and Gilmore are "very pragmatic people," Wilson said. If one candidate has raised "a prohibitive amount" of money by April, Wilson said he expected party leaders to avoid an inter-party fight. So let them "fight it out on the issues" for now, but Wilson has signaled that if Kelly and Gilmore don't get going fast, they may be outbid for a shot at a Congressional seat.We'll see how much the GOP primary voters and his running mates for the US Senate like his money when they see what he's doing with it... So with news that Lockheed Martin executive Christopher Myers is mulling a bid for Congress in the third district (where is close friend, Jim Saxton, is retiring) came the obligatory check of his previous campaign contributions. They are mostly to Republicans like Saxton (and to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign), but earlier this year he did write a $500 personal check to Frank Lautenberg's campaign for re-election to the U.S. Senate. Does it matter? That's a good question, does it matter? Enjoy the show.
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Sun Dec 09, 2007 at 04:28:00 PM EST
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 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.
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Sat Nov 10, 2007 at 08:30:51 PM EST
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 The sudden decision by Congressman Jim Saxton to retire after this term opens the door for an ideological, geographical and egotistical fight within Republican party the likes of which we haven't seen in a long time.
The 3rd Congressional District contains parts of Camden, Burlington and Ocean Counties. The Camden County GOP is relatively weak compared to the Boss factor of Burlington County power boss Glenn Paulsen and Ocean County power broker George Gilmore. Both Paulsen and Gilmore will surely want a say in the candidate, but first Paulsen will have to do battle within his county party that is currently raging over just who's calling the shots. Burlington County In Burlington County, likely candidates appear to represent the factions developing within the county party. You have the "moderate" Republican State Senator Diane Allen who has run before, been contacted by the national party and has expressed interest in the seat. She has had a rather public spat over money and power with GOP boss Glenn Paulsen who is trying to have his next door neighbor serve as chair of the party so he can pull the strings in the background and maintain his power to dole out taxpayer dollars. He seems to have made his choice... Paulsen said yesterday he considered BurlCo Freeholder Aubrey Fenton of Willingboro the best choice for the Republican candidate.
"If the national party cares about inclusion and African Americans, Aubrey Fenton should be someone they should get behind," Paulsen said. County Sherriff Jean Stanfield said she won't seek the seat. Freeholder Bill Haines would also be a possible consideration.Ocean County But it doesn't look like Ocean County is very anxious to see another candidate from Burlington... It's high time (we) got a congressman from Ocean County, said Mayor Leonard ConnorsCounty GOP Chairman George Gilmore said Ocean County has more Republican voters than either the parts of Burlington or Camden counties in the 3rd District. According to the Ocean County Observer... Among those he said who he expects are interested in the nomination from Ocean County are Freeholders John P. Kelly, Joseph H. Vicari and Gerry P. Little, County Clerk Carl W. Block, State GOP Committeewoman Virginia Haines, and Connors and Rumpf. Kelly has all but said he will run for the seat and would probably be the lead candidate from the county. Little said it was to early to think about it, but he was flattered to be considered. This'll probably move fast so he better start thinking. Haines wants to clear it with Boss Paulsen before deciding. Block will keep his eye on the local scene for now and Vicari wasn't available for comment in the story.Ultimately, the question will probably be who can raise the money to mount a credible challenge to Senator John Adler who has already declared his candidacy and has raised over $200,000. The national Republican Party is pretty much broke and Saxton could retire with his money meaning the potential GOP candidate will have to bring something to the table and get busy to raise the necessary funds for the Republicans to maintain their hold on the seat? How will the intra-party squabble between Paulsen & Allen affect her ability to fund what is shaping up to be a difficult primary. Will Paulsen be able to call in enough favors to finance an effective campaign with a candidate of his liking that will appeal to the voters of the district? It's unlikely that Paulsen would let Ocean County have the candidate and clear that Ocean County is ready to have their say. The question of who is the more powerful GOP boss will certainly be tested in a matchup of Gilmore and Paulsen and while primaries are a good thing, this would appear to be shaping up as a bruising contest for power. With Allen being Pro-Choice, you would figure groups will be helping fund a candidate against her. The Club for Growth may look for a candidate they could back. Those fun "marriage protection" folks will be looking to save society as well. Who knows what other fun activists may want to have their voices heard. You have gender, race, ideology, money and all the makings for a hotly contested primary campaign on the Republican side of the aisle. You can visit Senator Adler's Congressional Website while you watch the show.
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Wed Jan 25, 2006 at 10:00:33 PM EST
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( - promoted by jmelli)
 "A gleeful yet heartbreaking afternoon" is how one attendee described the day.
As expected, the Ocean County freeholders today unanimously voted to grant pension benefits to Laurel Hester. The vote was 4-0, with freeholder Kelly absent.
Against the recommendations of her doctor, Laurel showed up with her partner Stacie to thank the freeholders. Due to her deteriorating health, she had to arrive in her wheelchair, with an oxygen tether, surgical gloves and mask.
When she arrived, the 80 supporters in the room greeted her with cheers. After the vote, Laurel thanked the freeholders and said that it "was democracy at its best."
Email the freeholders at CountyConnection@co.ocean.nj.us to thank them for doing the right thing.
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Sun Jan 22, 2006 at 04:19:30 PM EST
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Laurel Hester thanked former colleague Dane Wells for his help: "I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, the person most responsible for this, my first partner at the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, Dane Wells." For months, Dane has been contacting state, national and international media outlets to bring visibility to Laurel's cause. He said that "tens of thousands of phone calls and e-mails from at least three continents were sent to the freeholders. Hundreds of thousands of people were outraged." His effort s paid off. Freeholder John Kelly who once claimed that domestic partner benefits threatened the sanctity of marriage, noted that "advocates for change have done a very good job of humanizing the issue." Republican State Senator Leonard T. Connors Jr. thinks that all counties will have domestic partner benefits: "A third of the counties have passed benefits, and I am sure they all will." The Asbury Park Press has an online poll asking whether or not the freeholders should grant Laurel her pension benefits.
Governor Corzine isn't ready to ban smoking in casino floors, citing economic reasons. Sharon asks: "Is it fair to treat casino workers as second-class citizens compared to other workers around Our Fair State?"
Some Republicans have doubts about Corzine's nominee for Attorney General, Zulima Farber.
Doug Forrester has sold his business, BeneCard.
The balmy weather we've had the past month will be gone soon.
This week's Carnival of New Jersey Bloggers is up!
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Thu Dec 22, 2005 at 01:03:46 PM EST
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Below I've reproduced part two of a three part series written by The Big Gay Picture on Laurel Hester. But there are also two important letters to the editor in today's Ocean County Observer on this issue.
A letter by Dane Wells rebukes the freeholders' claims that the pension benefits requested would be a "tremendous cost": Using the county's own inflated numbers, it seems the price of providing death benefits to the partners of all county workers would amount to about 23 cents a year for a typical taxpayer, or about half the cost of a single mile traveled in just one take-home county car.
Aside from a certain five freeholders with an annual budget exceeding $300 million, I don't think there are many county residents unwilling to pay just half the price of this newspaper to ensure the dignity and peaceful death of a fellow human being, let alone one who was such a loyal and devoted public servant.
As for the benevolence of the freeholders in pointing out the value of Laurel's employee life insurance, how horribly cruel that they left out the part that she has to die before her sick time runs out in a little more than a week for her beneficiary to collect it. I can only assume this deception was somehow sanctified.
But I was pleased to see that Lt. Hester is in the freeholders' "personal prayers." As they gather with their own pension-protected loved ones at Christmas, I would ask each of them to remember Laurel, struggling in agony for every breath, and yet hoping her last gasp will come before Jan. 1, when the stone coldheartedness of the Ocean County freeholders will leave her family homeless.
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Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 09:52:42 AM EST
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On Friday, the Ocean County Observer reported on the possible costs associated with approving pension benefits for domestic partners in Ocean County. Lt Laurel Hester, a 24 year veteran of the prosecutor's office, is dying of lung cancer and has asked the freeholders to let her pass her pension benefits to her partner, who otherwise will not be able to keep their home.
Their excuses have ranged from immoral smoke screens about the "sanctity of marriage" to vague complaints about costs to taxpayers. Six months after Laurel Hester made her request, they've finally decided to actually work out some numbers and guessed that it could cost between $114,000 and $220,000 to fund pension benefits for domestic partners - or 23 to 45 cents per resident in Ocean County. Freeholder Kelly calls these added pension benefits a "tremendous cost."
Kelly, who fears that his marriage would be ruined by granting Hester the same pension benefits that he's double-dipping into, tried to take credit for the help that Laurel is getting (from The Big Gay Picture): Freeholder Kelly pointed out what the county has so generously done for Ms. Hester. Her salary continues to be paid in full as other employees have donated sick leave since Ms. Hester has used up hers fighting cancer. Note that this is not something extra done at the behest of the freeholders. It is what would be granted to any employee. It's nice that Freeholder Kelly tries to take credit for it though.
The freeholder also notes that the county provides life insurance for Ms. Hester and that along with the money Ms. Hester put into the pension system herself, she will be able to leave $450,000 to her partner. But wait--there's a catch. To get the life inusrance, Ms. Hester must die within the next nineteen days. After that her sick time runs out and she will have to retire. You see, the life insurance benefit only applies to active employees. Odd that Freeholder Kelly failed to mention that. Kelly comforts himself by adding that his "personal prayers have been for the lieutenant." He can pray all he wants, but his actions tell us everything we need to know about his values. While his wife will benefit from taxpayer-funded pension plans, he washes his hands clean of another couples' misfortune by citing a possible added tax burden of 45 cents.
To solve this dilema, I would like to offer to pay for Mr. Kelly's 45 cents, as well as the 45 cents of the other freeholders (I doubt anyone else in the county would complain about 45 cents). Although I am putting my financial health and the future of my marriage at great risk, a check for $2.25 will be in the mail soon. Don't spend it all at once, guys.
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Fri Dec 09, 2005 at 07:57:37 AM EST
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After weeks of silence on the issue, the editorial board of the state's second largest newspaper is urging Ocean (and Monmouth) County's freeholders to pass domestic partner benefits for county employees. Extend benefits to gay partners:The Ocean County freeholders should drop their opposition to extending domestic-partnership benefits to county employees. This would finally allow a county Prosecutor's Office investigator dying of lung cancer to pass along her pension benefits to her domestic partner.
The freeholders have resisted the request by Laurel Hester of Point Pleasant primarily on financial grounds, citing the impact on the state's deficit-laden pension system. Freeholder John P. Kelly also has voiced concern that a domestic partnership resolution would violate the sanctity of marriage.
The freeholders are wrong on both grounds. This is a matter of civil rights, a matter of fairness. The state Domestic Partnership Act provides health and pension benefits for state employees and permits counties and local governments to do the same for their employees. The Ocean freeholders should join their colleagues in Bergen, Hudson, Mercer and Union counties, as well as more than 100 municipalities, in passing a resolution extending domestic partnership rights. The Monmouth County freeholder board should do the same.
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Sun Nov 27, 2005 at 09:06:07 PM EST
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Across the pond, the UK Gay News is covering Lt Laurel Hester's situation:How this situation – and the thousands of others that go unnoticed – can arise in the United States puzzles us at UK Gay News. America proclaims itself as the leader of the world. But when it comes for basic rights of same-sex couples living in a long-term relationship, the country is probably in the bottom quartile.
The old chestnut about family values and sanctity of marriage just does not wash. America has one of the highest divorce rates in the world and is where a pop star can get married for the weekend.
The word “humbug†comes to mind. And is this instance it applies to the Freeholders of Ocean County Meanwhile, an editorial in today's Ocean County Observer slams the OC freeholder's hypocricy:Never mind that the freeholders have demonstrated stupendous greed through their own history of feeding at the public through, often in jobs that helped boost their own pensions.
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