Dems: Party poised to take majority on freeholder bd.
Mason and Mallet will run in primary for two open seats
BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer
After over 20 years of Republican domination of the Board of Chosen Freeholders, Monmouth County Democrats think their time has come.

Glen Mason

Glenn Mason and Amy Mallet were selected as the Democratic nominees to run for the two open seats on the five-member Freeholder board in the June primary.

"We certainly think that this year is the year for the Democrats," Monmouth County Democratic Party spokesman Michael Mangan said Monday. "We've added a Democrat to a seat for the last two years. Monmouth County residents are ready for a change and these are the candidates to do that."

Party officials chose the two candidates March 8 at the Democratic county convention held at the Shore Casino inAtlantic Highlands.

According to Mangan, the two are expected to gain the Democrats a majority on the board.

Mason, a retired Hazlet police officer, and Mallet, a small business owner, were selected as the nominees to run as the Democratic candidates for Monmouth County freeholder this year's June primary for the two open seats.

Amy Mallet

Also in consideration for the post was Middle- town resid ent Leonard Inzerillo who withdrew his name from consideration.

D

emocrats

had gone over 20 years without having a freeholder representing the party until 2006 when BarbaraMcMorrow was elected to a seat.

The Board of Chosen freeholders currently has two Democrats: McMorrow and John D'Amico Jr.

The three Republicans on the board are freeholder Director Lillian Burry, William C. Barham, who is not running for re-election, and Robert Clifton.

Mason is currently president of the Hazlet Township Board of Education and is running for re-election to the school board. He served previously as the coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management for the Township of Hazlet and is a member of the N.J. Emergency Management Association. As a detective, Mason was charged with investigating crimes that took place throughout the township including narcotics crimes and gang violence.

He has a host of professional memberships through which he continued to educate himself and received the Achievement Award from the American Police Hall of Fame.

Mason said in a press release that as president of the school board, he is familiar with the budget process and the importance of keeping taxes down.

Drawing on his law enforcement background, he said that he knows that integrity and honesty must be the primary concern of public officials.

"The people must have faith restored in their government," Mason said in the press release. "I intend to restore the people's trust and ensure that Monmouth County's elected [officials] are held to the highest standard of ethics and morals."

Mallet is the owner of Amsley Promotions, a small business dedicated to helping clients build and further their businesses.

She has been the recipient of numerous awards for excellence in business as well as a leader among women in business. Mallet served president-elect and vice president of public policy of the Central Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners.

Mallet's community include serving on the Community Advisory Board for the Wellness Community Northern Jersey Shore and raising funds for the Monmouth Medical Center Oncology Radiation Department.

According to a release from the Monmouth County Democrats, Mallet would bring a resolve to keeping costs down if elected.

"As a small-business owner, I know that the only way to reduce costs is to cut spending. I hope to bring the practicality of a business owner to the operations of county government,"Mallet said in the release. "I am happy to see that the budget is down. Had it not been for the influence of freeholders McMorrow and D'Amico, that would have never happened. I want to join them to make sure that those cuts are permanent."

In the press release, the two vowed to restore fiscal responsibility to county gove rnment and to restore honor and integrity to county public offices.

Their Republican opposition for the freeholder seats will be Holmdel Mayor Serena Di- Maso or Red Bank Council- man John Curley who are tied as candidates for the one open GOP freeholder slot.

Republican incumbent Burry is running for re-election.

DiMaso and Curley were among the three GOP finalists who also included Freehold Township Zoning Board member Steven Walsh.

Republican Party Chairman Adam Puharic announced their names at the GOP's Feb. 25 Lincoln Day dinner held at the Southgate Manor in Freehold.

The GOP county convention will be held March 26.