Post by Marc LeVine on Feb 23, 2007 10:57:41 GMT -5
Republican freeholder considers new party
Anna Little clashes with GOP chairman
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 02/21/07
BY BOB JORDAN
FREEHOLD BUREAU
Monmouth County Republican Freeholder Anna Little is considering switching parties and has dropped her bid to win the endorsement of her current party's leaders as a candidate in the June primary.
Little had sparred with GOP County Chairman Adam Puharic over several components of the party's new screening process.
She refused to sign a 14-page contract requiring candidates to pay $1,000 or more to have an investigator perform a background check on them, and requiring them to promise not to wage a primary fight if they are not given the party line.
Hours after Little dropped out of consideration, Puharic said the contract's terms will not be enforced and the documents that were signed will be returned to the candidates. But he said he considered Little's withdrawal "final."
"I am not the only candidate who has objected to the screening process as designed by the chairman," Little said.
Little Silver Councilman Declan O'Scanlon, who is seeking a 12th District Assembly seat, said he and other candidates were able to make changes to the contract before signing.
"The chairman was very amenable to the suggestions and concerns I had," O'Scanlon said. "I think we arrived, in my case, at a very reasonable vetting process. I'm sorry that Anna has not been able to do that, but I don't know if the chairman was as flexible with Anna as he was with me. A lot of people said it was a work in progress."
But there was practically no give-and-take between Little and Puharic. Both attended the party's Lincoln Day reception Monday night, but they did not speak and have not communicated since a heated meeting at Republican headquarters on Feb. 6.
Little said she expected to meet Puharic that day privately. Instead, Little said, "Puharic was seated behind his desk with two muscle men standing on either side of him with arms folded. Puharic then listed the reasons that he felt I should not run on the Republican ticket."
"There are clearly some misstatements by Ms. Little and some misrepresentations," Puharic responded. He would not elaborate.
Little said she felt "intimidated" at the meeting. The two people who attended on Puharic's behalf were Aberdeen GOP Chairman Michael Borg and Manalapan GOP Chairman Steven McEnery, Little said.
"Adam said he was very angry and that they were there to protect me from his temper," Little said. "He stated that I should tell the press I would be signing the agreement, even if it were not the truth. The result of this meeting was that the chairman and I will not be able to resolve our differences."
Puharic said, "Truth be told, this is not about the contract. Ms. Little has chosen to state that the contract is why she is dropping out, but the truth is she hasn't been a part of the party. She would not work with the party."
Little said she has spoken to Monmouth County Democratic Party leaders and also is considering running in November as an independent.
"I'm not entirely sure of what I'll do, but I do intend to run," Little said. "The people of Monmouth County elected me in November to serve them, and I would like to continue to serve."
Michael Mangan, spokesman for the county Democrats, said, "The Democrats would welcome Freeholder Little with open arms. She has proved to be an independent voice on the freeholder board. She has stood up to the Republican Party on a number of things including the reappointment of County Counsel Malcolm Carton."
Freeholder Director William Barham, also a Republican, said Little's possible defection from the party won't impact the board's business. There are three other Republicans and one Democrat on the board.
"I hope whatever Anna does is done in the best interests of her family," Barham said. "The party will still move forward with the people still vying for consideration."
Barham is on the 24-member screening committee that has selected nominees — up to two for each seat — in state Assembly and Senate races. The candidates for county office will be nominated March 3, and county committee members will pick the finalists March 24.
GOP Freeholder Robert Clifton, who also is seeking re-election, and three other candidates are left in the bid for freeholder nominations for two seats, though Puharic said additional candidates may be considered due to Little's absence.
The successful candidates will be listed on the party's line on the June 5 primary ballot.
Little said her problems with Puharic began in October when she returned campaign money to a state Republican fundraising organization after concerns were raised about the source of the contribution. Democrats charged that the money originated from local campaign committees allegedly set up to exploit a loophole in the state's new pay-to-play law, and Little said the incident put Puharic "in an unfavorable light."
"He also said I was difficult to work with," Little said.
Puharic said, "I'm not going to fight my battles with Ms. Little in the press."
Anna Little clashes with GOP chairman
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 02/21/07
BY BOB JORDAN
FREEHOLD BUREAU
Monmouth County Republican Freeholder Anna Little is considering switching parties and has dropped her bid to win the endorsement of her current party's leaders as a candidate in the June primary.
Little had sparred with GOP County Chairman Adam Puharic over several components of the party's new screening process.
She refused to sign a 14-page contract requiring candidates to pay $1,000 or more to have an investigator perform a background check on them, and requiring them to promise not to wage a primary fight if they are not given the party line.
Hours after Little dropped out of consideration, Puharic said the contract's terms will not be enforced and the documents that were signed will be returned to the candidates. But he said he considered Little's withdrawal "final."
"I am not the only candidate who has objected to the screening process as designed by the chairman," Little said.
Little Silver Councilman Declan O'Scanlon, who is seeking a 12th District Assembly seat, said he and other candidates were able to make changes to the contract before signing.
"The chairman was very amenable to the suggestions and concerns I had," O'Scanlon said. "I think we arrived, in my case, at a very reasonable vetting process. I'm sorry that Anna has not been able to do that, but I don't know if the chairman was as flexible with Anna as he was with me. A lot of people said it was a work in progress."
But there was practically no give-and-take between Little and Puharic. Both attended the party's Lincoln Day reception Monday night, but they did not speak and have not communicated since a heated meeting at Republican headquarters on Feb. 6.
Little said she expected to meet Puharic that day privately. Instead, Little said, "Puharic was seated behind his desk with two muscle men standing on either side of him with arms folded. Puharic then listed the reasons that he felt I should not run on the Republican ticket."
"There are clearly some misstatements by Ms. Little and some misrepresentations," Puharic responded. He would not elaborate.
Little said she felt "intimidated" at the meeting. The two people who attended on Puharic's behalf were Aberdeen GOP Chairman Michael Borg and Manalapan GOP Chairman Steven McEnery, Little said.
"Adam said he was very angry and that they were there to protect me from his temper," Little said. "He stated that I should tell the press I would be signing the agreement, even if it were not the truth. The result of this meeting was that the chairman and I will not be able to resolve our differences."
Puharic said, "Truth be told, this is not about the contract. Ms. Little has chosen to state that the contract is why she is dropping out, but the truth is she hasn't been a part of the party. She would not work with the party."
Little said she has spoken to Monmouth County Democratic Party leaders and also is considering running in November as an independent.
"I'm not entirely sure of what I'll do, but I do intend to run," Little said. "The people of Monmouth County elected me in November to serve them, and I would like to continue to serve."
Michael Mangan, spokesman for the county Democrats, said, "The Democrats would welcome Freeholder Little with open arms. She has proved to be an independent voice on the freeholder board. She has stood up to the Republican Party on a number of things including the reappointment of County Counsel Malcolm Carton."
Freeholder Director William Barham, also a Republican, said Little's possible defection from the party won't impact the board's business. There are three other Republicans and one Democrat on the board.
"I hope whatever Anna does is done in the best interests of her family," Barham said. "The party will still move forward with the people still vying for consideration."
Barham is on the 24-member screening committee that has selected nominees — up to two for each seat — in state Assembly and Senate races. The candidates for county office will be nominated March 3, and county committee members will pick the finalists March 24.
GOP Freeholder Robert Clifton, who also is seeking re-election, and three other candidates are left in the bid for freeholder nominations for two seats, though Puharic said additional candidates may be considered due to Little's absence.
The successful candidates will be listed on the party's line on the June 5 primary ballot.
Little said her problems with Puharic began in October when she returned campaign money to a state Republican fundraising organization after concerns were raised about the source of the contribution. Democrats charged that the money originated from local campaign committees allegedly set up to exploit a loophole in the state's new pay-to-play law, and Little said the incident put Puharic "in an unfavorable light."
"He also said I was difficult to work with," Little said.
Puharic said, "I'm not going to fight my battles with Ms. Little in the press."