February 14th, 2012
Contact: 732-299-5625
LONG BRANCH – Democratic activist and local businessman Vin Gopal formally announced his candidacy for Monmouth County Democratic Party Chairman with the support of more than 100 Democratic Party municipal chairs, mayors, elected officials and local leaders.
LONG BRANCH – Democratic activist and local businessman Vin Gopal formally announced his candidacy for Monmouth County Democratic Party Chairman with the support of more than 100 Democratic Party municipal chairs, mayors, elected officials and local leaders.
After serving as the Monmouth County Democratic Party Chairman for 24 years, Victor V. Scudiery recently announced that he would not seek another term as the County Chair.“Victor has led our party with courage and integrity, growing this county’s Democratic organization and helping to elect dozens of Democrats throughout the county” said Gopal. “I know that he will continue to support Democrats after June as he focuses on his other business and charitable endeavors.”
In an impressive show of support, elected Democrats throughout Monmouth County signed a letter touting Gopal’s record of fundraising and organizing. These Democratic party leaders are encouraging fellow Democrats to support Gopal, citing his recent bid for the New Jersey State Assembly, where he received the most votes of any Democratic legislative candidate in Monmouth County. Gopal was also the only Monmouth County Democratic Legislative Candidate who received an endorsement from the Asbury Park Press and his team was able to raise over $200,000 for his campaign.
Gopal has spent the last six years organizing and fundraising for Democratic campaigns throughout Monmouth County. Gopal has hosted over thirty fundraisers, which helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Democratic candidates for municipal and county races. Gopal’s aggressive fundraising efforts have helped the Democrats win elections in key municipalities and his grass roots organizing has led to the formation of new Democratic Clubs in Colts Neck, Neptune City, Little Silver, West Long Branch and other municipalities.
Joe Caliendo, Chairman of the Middletown Democratic Party, which has 92 County Committee seats and would be crucial to any candidate’s effort to become the County Chairman, has endorsed Gopal, stating: “I am supporting Vin Gopal because he brings energy and experience, a combination we need for the Monmouth County Democrats. I will let our delegation know why I am supporting Vin this June as Victor Scudiery's successor.”
Gopal currently owns and operates several businesses, including a chain of community publications supported by over 200 advertisers that reach over 35,000 homes and businesses each month. He also owns and operates a retail embroidery and sign store in Hazlet that serves more than 1,000 customers per year. Gopal serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Northern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Trustees of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth County and is President of the Hazlet Business Owners Association. Gopal also volunteered for many years as an EMT for rescue squads in Freehold and Colts Neck.
A graduate of Penn State University, Vin Gopal is a former legislative aide to New Jersey Assemblyman Herb Conaway and former fundraiser for Newark City Councilman Ron Rice, Jr. He resides in Long Branch, NJ.
Please see below for full text of endorsement.
Dear County Committee Member:
“With news that Monmouth County Democratic Party Chairman Victor Scudiery will retire in June, we fully endorse Vin Gopal as the next county chairman.
We believe that Vin, as County Chairman, will best carry on the work that Vic Scudiery started and will help lead our party toward Democratic victories across the county. While Vic’s generosity and commitment can never be replaced, we know that the Monmouth County Democratic Party under Vin will emphasize a new vigor, fresh perspective and a bright future for all Democrats.
We are confident that Vin will provide the leadership we need because he has a proven record of fundraising, organizing, and party-building. Vin has hosted over thirty fundraisers for municipal and county candidates, helping to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars. Vin has also been the driving force in the formation of many new Democratic Clubs such as West Long Branch, Colts Neck, and Neptune City. Additionally, Vin has built alliances statewide that will move Monmouth County forward.
As a candidate for State Assembly this past year, Vin was the only Democratic legislative candidate from Monmouth County to win the endorsement of The Asbury Park Press. He was also the highest vote-getter of any Democratic legislative candidate in Monmouth County this year. Vin has been there for every one of us and we are confident he will be an outstanding party chairman who will unite Democrats across this county.
Based on all of these reasons and many others, we are proud to stand with Vin Gopal today and we will stand with him in June at our convention. We all look forward to urging our respective county committee members to support Vin because he is the best person to lead our party.”
Signed below.
DEMOCRATIC MUNICIPAL CHAIRS
Bill Shenton, Aberdeen
Amy Quinn, Asbury Park & County Dems Vice-Chair
Luis Pulido, Belmar
Ed Cicchi, Bradley Beach
Rick Ambrosia, Colts Neck
Matt Cohen, Fair Haven
J.J. Mistretta, Freehold Township
Rebecca Kane, Highlands
Andy Bace, Hazlet
Tony Orsini, Holmdel
Steve Morlino, Howell
Robert Napoli, Interlaken
John McCarthy, Keansburg
Bob Bergen, Keyport
Daniel J. O'Hern, Little Silver
Mike Ryan, Lake Como
Gerry Ward, Manalapan
Florlee Wan, Matawan
Joe Caliendo, Middletown
Jackie Dollive, Neptune City
Jim Mowczan, Neptune
Janice Robbins, Ocean Township
Ed Zipprich, Red Bank
Ann Baker, Roosevelt
Dina Long, Sea Bright
Norma Rosenbloom, Shrewsbury Borough
Ed Nolan, Shrewsbury Township
Michael Lee, Tinton Falls
Ken Connors, Union Beach
Eric Brophy, Wall Township
Larry Shapiro, West Long Branch
ELECTED OFFICIALS
Aberdeen Mayor Fred Tagliarini
Asbury Park Mayor Ed Johnson
Belmar Mayor Matthew Doherty
Bradley Beach Mayor Julie Schreck
Neptune Mayor Randy Bishop
Lake Como Mayor Mike Ryan
Sea Bright Mayor Dina Long
Roosevelt Mayor Beth Battel
Shrewsbury Mayor Ed Nolan
Spring Lake Mayor Jennifer Naughton
Aberdeen Deputy Mayor Margaret Montone
Asbury Park Deputy Mayor John Loffredo
Neptune Deputy Mayor Eric Houghtaling
Aberdeen Councilman Greg Cannon
Atlantic Highlands Councilman Roy Dellosso
Freehold Borough Council President George Schnurr
Hazlet Committeeman Joe Belasco
Highlands Councilman Chris Francy
Highlands Councilwoman Rebecca Kane
Highlands Councilman Kevin Redmond
Holmdel Committeeman Larry Fink
Interlaken Councilman Robert Napoli
Keyport Council President Christian Bolte
Keyport Councilman Kenneth McPeek
Keyport Councilman Joe Sheridan
Keyport Councilwoman Joy-Michele Tomczak
Lake Como Councilwoman Marni McFadden-Lee
Lake Como Councilwoman Patricia Tzibrouk
Little Silver Councilman Daniel J. O’Hern
Neptune Committeeman Kevin McMillan
Neptune Committeewoman Mary Beth Jahn
Red Bank Council President Art Murphy
Red Bank Councilman Ed Zipprich
Red Bank Councilwoman Kathy Horgan
Red Bank Councilwoman Juanita Lewis
Red Bank Councilwoman Sharon Lee
Spring Lake Councilwoman Janice Venables
Spring Lake Councilwoman Priscilla Reilly
Spring Lake Councilman Bob Drasheff
Mike Beson, Democratic Leader
FORMER FREEHOLDERS
Former Monmouth County Freeholder Amy Mallet
Former Monmouth County Freeholder John D'Amico
Former Monmouth County Freeholder John Villapiano
LABOR LEADERS
Monmouth Ocean AFL-CIO CLC - Official Unanimous Endorsement
Wyatt Earp
Mike Ryan
Pete Geronimo
Chuddy Whalen
Joe Caliendo
ADDITIONAL ENDORSEMENTS
"As Democratic leaders in Red Bank, we proudly support Vin Gopal as the next county Democratic Chairman. Vin has supported Democrats in Red Bank for years, helping us raise money and helping us organize our campaigns. He would make an outstanding chairman and we plan to inform the Red Bank delegation about our support.”
Red Bank Democratic Party Municipal Chairman & Councilman Ed Zipprich
Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna
Red Bank Council President Art Murphy
Red Bank Councilwoman Kathy Horgan
Red Bank Councilwoman Juanita Lewis
Red Bank Councilwoman Sharon Lee
Red Bank Democrats Vice Chairwoman Lauren Niccosia
Red Bank Democratic Club President Barbara Boas
Red Bank Democratic Club Secretary Deborah Marks
"As Democratic leaders in Middletown, Monmouth County's largest municipality, we proudly support Vin Gopal as the next county Democratic Chairman. Vin has supported Middletown for years, helping to raise money for our municipal candidates and helping the party any way he can. We will urge the 92 member Middletown delegation to support Vin Gopal this June for county chairman."
Joe Caliendo, Middletown Democratic Party Municipal Chairman
Sean F. Byrnes, Former Middletown Township Committeeman (2008-2011)
Marilyn Tuohy, Middletown Democratic Party Vice-Chairwoman
Marilyn Maguire, State Committeewoman
Don Watson, Middletown Democratic Club President
John Amberg, Middletown Democratic Party
Marilyn Michaels, Middletown Democratic Party
Linda Baum, Middletown Democratic Party
James Grenafege, Democratic Nominee for Middletown Township (2011)
Mary Mahoney, Democratic Nominee for Middletown Township (2010)
Mike Morris, Middletown Democratic Party
“The Manalapan Democrats join Chairman Gerry Ward in fully endorsing Vin Gopal for County Democratic Chairman. As 3 former Democratic Mayors, we give Vin our 100% support and we know he will work hard to help Democrats win across Western Monmouth.”
Former Manalapan Mayor Michelle Roth
Former Manalapan Mayor Beth Ward
Former Manalapan Mayor Drew Shapiro
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