MARLBORO – Renzo Kolenovic claimed a few months ago that political retribution was hurting business at his Italian restaurant.
Now he’s fighting back at the ballot box.
Kolenovic, who heads a group called “The Real Republicans of Monmouth County,” has announced a slate of candidates for the June 10 Republican primary. They will run – presumably – against incumbents backed by the county GOP organization.
Kolenovic claims many local Republicans are frustrated with the current leadership of County GOP Chairman Shaun Golden, who is also the county sheriff.
“We are a group of Republicans who believe in open, honest, and fair government, and we want a party organization that is free from intimidation and threats by party leaders,” is how Kolenovic put it.
The slate’s candidates are:
For county clerk – Danielle Bellomo of Marlboro.
For two seats on the board of commissioners – Mary C. “Katie” Kelliher and Ronald Osadacz Jr., both of Freehold Township.
A candidate to challenge Golden for sheriff will surface soon, the campaign said.
Of the just-announced candidates, Bellomo is the only elected official. She serves on the Marlboro Board of Education and in last year’s election – a highly-competitive race involving two, 3-person slates – Bellomo was the top vote getter by far.
As for the commission candidates, Kelliher is a real estate agent and Osadacz is a detective in Aberdeen and president of a local Police Benevolent Association.
The incumbents are Clerk Christine Hanlon and Commissioners Thomas Arnone, the board director, and Dominick DiRocco.
Primaries tend to be “family fights,” and, as such, personalities and alliances can be more important than issues.
Witness Kolenovic’s contention last November that political opponents were trying to hurt his business – Renzo’s Italian Restaurant. To that end, he pointed to a text message going around claiming he was a “RINO” – a dreaded term to some Republicans.
In truth, Kolenovic backs Bill Spadea, a right winger, for governor as opposed to Jack Ciattarelli, the choice of the Monmouth County Republican organization.
Spadea, in fact, was just in Monmouth for a “meet and greet” and seemed right in tune with Kolenovic’s efforts. He said the county’s political leaders try to bully and intimidate people.
Another genuine issue is Monmouth Executive Airport in Wall Township.
The county commissioners just ended a contentious attempt to take the airport through condemnation.
Kolenovic was a critic of that plan.
The commissioners’ move – fortuitously occurring three months before the primary – takes that issue off the table.
But does it?
You can expect the slate of “Real Republicans” to ask, why the commissioners wasted so much time and money on this endeavor in the first place?
Insider NJ recently reported on a unique event taking place in the Garden State – a pizza contest held in a ballot box. This innovative competition brought together local pizzerias to showcase their best slices and compete for the title of best pizza in New Jersey.
The idea behind the contest was to engage the community in a fun and delicious way while also promoting civic engagement. By holding the competition in a ballot box, organizers hoped to encourage residents to participate in the democratic process and exercise their right to vote.
The event featured a variety of pizza styles, from traditional New York-style slices to gourmet creations with unique toppings. Participants were able to sample each pizza and cast their vote for their favorite, with the winner being determined by popular vote.
Not only did the contest provide a tasty opportunity for residents to come together and enjoy some delicious pizza, but it also served as a reminder of the importance of participating in local elections. By combining food and politics in a creative way, the event was able to draw attention to the upcoming election and encourage residents to get out and vote.
Overall, the pizza contest in the ballot box was a fun and innovative way to engage the community and promote civic participation. It’s events like these that help to bring people together, spark conversation, and remind us all of the importance of being active and engaged citizens.
