Freehold Borough Board of Education member Daniel Xavier fell short in his bid to be a Democratic nominee for Borough Council.
Xavier, incumbent Councilwoman Sharon Shutzer and Ron Griffiths squared off in the municipality's first contested primary in 37 years. With all districts reporting, Shutzer and Griffiths, running on the Freehold Borough Democratic Party line, received 398 votes, according to the Freehold Borough Clerk's Office. Xavier received 109 votes.
"I feel humbled," Shutzer said after learning the results of the primary. "I think this process has really energized our party."
Griffiths, who was also with Shutzer, when the results were announced said that he is thrilled with the results as well.
Shutzer and Griffiths will face Republicans MaryAnne Earle and incumbent Councilman John Newman in the general election. Two Borough Council seats, each for three-year terms, are up in the November vote.
As for candidate Xavier, the borough democrats have spoken through their votes resulting in your earned loss. We look forward to seeing the same result when you run for school board reelection . I'll expect local democrats to be contacting ELEC advising about the many infractions that your campaign has engaged in . if you going to play in the big leagues you gotta follow big league rules .
Good job Dan for shaking up the system. I believe that you have set the stage for even stronger challenges to the status quo in all coming elections.
You make a good point, Dan COULD have set the stage but his actions lowered himself to the level of another Freehold failed council seeking wacko in Ted Miller. There is no place in the Boro for the Millers and Xaviers of this world! Little has anyone said but Dan actually has handed the GOP ammo against Griffin, which ultimately hurts his party....Oh well, what can you do!
Mike it is easy to mock Ted Miller, but think about this...if it weren't for his efforts year after year to mount a challenge, we probably don't have John Newman, who is one of our most outstanding councilmen.
Dan certainly set the stage for primaries, I give him all the credit in the world for that. He also played the game a little dirty, to the point Sharon and Kevin had to come out and speak against his actions. People in the fire department stated Dan will "step on whoever" to get what he wants, with this campaign, he certainly did not prove them wrong! I don't believe Ted had anything to do with John Newman winning his seat. I think John Newman won his seat. John separated himself from Ted at the end of the campaign and worked his tail off. I for one, certainly will not lie and say I was a Newman supporter, but he has become a bright star in Freehold politics! John, unlike Dan, ran a smooth campaign and left the "dirty" bs alone and was rewarded. I think Dan left people with a bad taste in there mouth. I give him credit for trying, I really do. In the end, the voters spoke and it wasnt for Dan! Hopefully, the "d" and "r' can learn from this and run a calm, campaign based on facts in November, maybe even a debate. We shall see! It boils down to in small town politics, partys mean nothing, ideas and solutions mean the world. If Dan feels he stands a chance and really is serious about this, he can run as an independent.
I agree that Dan deserves credit for running! My question is about how he ran, obviously, his own party felt disrespected by his hand out, he questioned the integrity of his party by making it look like Ron doesn't even live in Freehold, this doesn't sit well with his party. All in all, Dan does deserve credit for being active, sad that he tarnished it with his antics!
If the worst offenses during the campaign were Shutzer calling Xavier "Idealistic" and Xavier endorsing Shutzer (without her permission), then I think the entire country can learn a thing or two from our little town!