CANTOR: GOLDEN’S TRUMP SILENCE ONCE AGAIN HIGHLIGHTS HIS CONFLICTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
April 21, 2016



HAZLET- On the heels of Donald Trump’s victory in the New York Republican Presidential Primary, Monmouth County Democratic candidate for Sheriff, Jeff Cantor, today questioned why Monmouth County Sheriff and County Republican Party Boss, Shaun Golden is refusing to let people know whether he stands in support of Trump for President. Trump has already been endorsed by the head of the New Jersey Republican Party, Chris Christie, as well as by Golden’s fellow Party Boss, Ocean County’s George Gilmore.

With New Jersey’s June 7th Primary date looming and the Republican nominee for President far from decided, Trump’s many controversial positions have forced Golden’s position as Republican Party Boss to again come into sharper focus in conjunction with his position as the County’s highest ranking law enforcement official. This is just the latest conflict of interest brought on by Golden’s positions as both County Republican Party Chairman and County Sheriff.

“Donald Trump has advocated for advanced torture methods, called for a wall to be built to discriminate against people and even said at one point that women seeking abortions should ‘be punished,’” said Cantor. “Donald Trump’s hateful, bigoted positions have been very clear from the outset of his campaign for President and it is well past time for Shaun Golden to work through his conflicted interests as Party Boss and County Sheriff and let us all know whether the Monmouth County Sheriff believes Donald Trump should be our next President. The fact is that in his ‘day job’ as County Sheriff, Shaun Golden is responsible for maintaining the infrastructure and safety for over 600,000 Monmouth County residents, so his party politics are not my concern.”

This conflict has long been an issue, even within Golden’s own party, as evidenced by statements made during Golden's recent run for Republican Party Chairman by former Monmouth County Prosecutor and President of the Monmouth County Affiliated Republican Club, John Kaye, former Monmouth County Republican Chairman Fredrick Niemann as well as Manalapan Township Republican County Chairman Steve McEnery and Freehold Township Republican County Committee Chairman Anthony Graziano.

Former County Prosecutor Kaye said that holding both the Chairman and Sheriff’s positions: “ . . . would immediately create conflicts for our Freeholders and vulnerabilities for our candidates that put everyone at risk . . . This is because the Sheriff’s office is part of the county government and subject to the Board of Freeholder’s review for funding. “

Former Chairman Niemann wrote: “You are either an elected official or a party leader. You can’t do both. To do both is an inherent conflict of interest.”

At the same time, McEnery and Graziano cited numerous potential ethical conflicts in Golden serving as Party Boss and Sheriff and they wrote: “ . . . he will, among other things, be seeking approval for various necessities tied to the County’s largest Department, including its budget, from the very same people who will be looking to him for support, endorsement, and financing during election cycles.”

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Jeff Cantor has been in the U.S. Army, both active and in the reserves, since 1985. He has served our country around the world, including deployments to Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. After starting as a Private First Class, Cantor rose through the ranks and has earned the rank of Colonel in the Army Reserves. Jeff Cantor has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3rd award), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (3rd award), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2nd award), Kosovo Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal (2nd award); He has also been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Combat Action Badge and the Basic Parachutist Badge.