Curley's hat in ring for freeholder
Red Bank councilman offers a 'fresh voice' on county board
BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer

John P. Curley

RED BANK - Township Councilman John P. Curley hopes to reach constituents on a county level when elections for the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders take place in November.

Curley sent a letter of intent declaring his candidacy for freeholder Jan. 24, a couple of weeks before Freeholder William C. Barham announced he would not seek re-election this year.

The Republican councilman said he wants to bring a fresh face and voice to the county with his nomination.

"I believe that Monmouth County is going through a period of revolution, that the Republican Party needs some stability and I feel that I'm not beholden to anyone so I can go out as a fresh voice and fresh spirit and be beneficial," said Curley Monday.

He added, "I'm putting my name out there and seeing how it plays out. I truly believe that if the Republican Party in the county wants to change then they will choose me because I am someone who brings forth change."

Curley has served on the Red Bank Borough Council since 2002 and is one of two Republicans on the six-member council. He previously ran and lost a bid for mayor in 2006 and as he did during that campaign, he continues to emphasize honest, transparent, approachable and efficient government.

"I am not afraid to challenge," he said. "I'm always willing to get up there and ask the questions and I think the same questions I've been asking in Red Bank need to be asked in Monmouth County, particularly on change orders and the way business is carried out."

Curley is currently the council liaison to the Parks and Recreation Committee and the Human Relations Committee and is a member of the Code Enforcement Committee. He is a former chairman of the Finance Committee and previously was a member of the Planning Board and the Historic Preservation Committee.

Curley, who works in business development for a family-owned business, is also the president of the Red Bank Republican Club and serves on the Monmouth County Republican Committee.

According to Curley, some of his accomplishments in Red Bank include, voting against pay raises for the mayor and council, introducing and passing a resolution that capped spending on all municipal accounts, consistently voting against inflated budgets and tax increases, ending the financing of the visitors center with taxpayer dollars, seeking grant monies and replacing municipal playground equipment throughout the borough, negotiating and partnering with the private sector for athletic field improvement and stopping the Navesink helipad proposal, rallying support with door-to-door campaigning.

"I got into politics because I would continue to read the newspaper and I just got to the point where I was fed up with what was happening," said Curley of his foray into politics.

Curley, whose term as councilman expires this year, said if he does not secure the nomination for freeholder, he will be back for the next general election.

"I would never put myself in a conflict of interest and serve in two public offices," said Curley.

The deadline to submit letters of intent for candidates seeking the Monmouth County Republican endorsement is Feb. 21 at 5 p.m., according to a news release from Monmouth County Republican Committee Chairman Adam Puharic posted Feb. 8 on the committee Web site.

Curley will be vying to fill one of two empty seats on the five-person board.

One of those seats belongs to Barham and the other to current Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry, who has already put her name in for re-election, said Puharic.

According to Puharic, along with Curley, Holmdel Mayor Serena DiMaso is also seeking the nomination.

Puharic said after the Feb. 21 deadline the screening committee would meet and interview all intended nominees Feb. 23.

The committee then has the ability to recommend up to two names per seat for the March 29 Republican convention, according to Puharic.