Politics & Government

Republican Incumbents Beat Back Primary Challenge in Monmouth County Races

Two freeholders and the sheriff faced a contested primary for the GOP ticket.

Incumbent Monmouth County officeholders defeated a slate of Bayshore Tea Party Group-backed candidates in Tuesday’s Republican primary.

Freeholder Director Thomas Arnone of Neptune City and Freeholder Deputy Director Serena DiMaso of Holmdel received 14,625 and 14,356 ballots, respectively, to win the party nomination for November’s election, according to the unofficial vote count from the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office with 99 percent of districts reporting.

Republicans for Conservative Leadership challenger Brian Largey of Middletown garnered 3,467 votes, while running mate Edward Pekarsky, also of Middletown, received 3,355.

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In remarks to supporters at an election party at the Lincroft Inn, Arnone thanked Republican officials for lending support during a primary battle that grew heated at times. He noted this was the first election in which Republican freeholders called on area mayors to actively campaign and send letters on their behalf during a contested primary.

“Serena and I will never forget that when we are sitting on that board," Arnone said. "Now we have to look to November."

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DiMaso also expressed gratitude to the crowd of supporters gathered in Lincroft.

"I look into this room and see all the smiling faces, and see how hard you worked, and it is humbling," DiMaso said.

Arnone and DiMaso will face Democrats Brian Froelich of Spring Lake and Lawrence Luttrell of Holmdel in the general election. The Monmouth County Democratic primary for freeholder was uncontested.

In the Republican race for sheriff, incumbent Shaun Golden of Farmingdale defeated Republicans for Conservative Leadership candidate Daniel Peters of Middletown 14,622 votes to 3,596. Golden will face Democrat Ruben M. Scolavino of Freehold, who ran uncontested in the primary.

Peters said he was grateful for his supporters but criticized the tone of the campaign, which he said turned antagonistic.

“I want to thank all the wonderful people who I met and voted for me. The despicable, cruel personal attacks against me regarding my disability were very hard to overcome,” he said. Peters receives a disability pension, which drew criticism during the primary.


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