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the 737 County Committee members elected in the June primary. While vacancies were fi lled by candidates, others were determined by write-in votes. Some districts have no representation. Nearly 89 percent of eligible members voted. Three polling areas were set up throughout the county, with the main station at Ocean County College. Satellite locations also allowed voters to cast their ballots in Manahawkin and in Lakewood. At the Southern Ocean County location, the vote was 75 to 45 in Gilmore’s favor. In Lakewood, Mastronardy secured the majority with 71 votes, while Gilmore received a total of nine. Not all of the hundreds who fl ocked to the Ocean County Republican Committee’s meeting were eligible to vote as party county committee members. State, county, and local elected offi cials were among the group gathered at Ocean County College voting headquarters. Gilmore continued to work the room until the last vote was cast and mingled with the crowd. Ruthanne Scaturro was on the ballot as Gilmore’s running mate and will become his vice chair. Scaturro secured 325 votes putting her in the lead over her opponent Barbara Lanuto, who received 311 votes. Outgoing Ocean County Republican Committee Chairman Frank Holman III announced the results, and abruptly left the podium. By that time, the crowd had dwindled down to approximately 100 people. Gilmore took over the microphone at that point and said the agenda called for the new chairman to speak after the votes were counted. He said he was okay with the fact that the item was seemingly cut out at the last minute. “Ruth and I have worked very hard to try and bring this organization together,” said Gilmore. “We want to get everyone rowing in the same direction to defeat Democrats. “Some people aren’t going to be happy,” Gilmore acknowledged. “We saw people on the (County Commissioner) level endorsing him (Mastronardy). But I had the people endorsing me.” Gilmore said his election means there will no longer be fear in the Ocean County Republican Organization. He said there would not be any type of intimidation and that he wanted everyone to work together and support the candidates of their choice. Scaturro echoed Gilmore’s sentiments and said the two plan to make sure everybody has a voice. She said the team ran a grassroots campaign with the eff orts of a number of people. Mastronardy remains on the November ballot for Ocean County Sheriff . When asked if he will support Gilmore as chairman, he had a simple answer: “I will continue to support the GOP in Ocean County.”

Conviction And Pardon

Gilmore’s recent conviction on federal tax charges was one of the biggest issues of the campaign. He had held the chairman spot for 23 years from 1996 to 2019 and stepped down after he was convicted of making false statements on a mortgage application and failure to collect, account for and pay over payroll taxes. He was found guilty of the charges in federal court in January 2020. He had appealed and lost. An attorney, Gilmore lost jerseyshoreonline.com his law license and resigned from public offi ce, including his chairmanship role and as head of the Ocean County Board of Elections. On the eve of President Donald Trump’s last day in offi ce, the outgoing president pardoned Gilmore. The pardon has allowed him to reinstate his law license, although he’s not sure how he’ll use it at this point. Gilmore – or his fi rm – had been the municipal attorney for a number of local towns. Trump’s actions also remove any perceived bars from Gilmore seeking public offi ce. Trump had been accused of taking bribes in exchange for pardons. Gilmore said he made no political contributions or any type of fi nancial donation in exchange for the pardon. Meanwhile, his adversaries point out that former While House Political Director Bill Stepien once served as the Executive Director for the Ocean County GOP when Gilmore was chair. After Gilmore stepped down, the county Republican organization held a special election in 2019 to choose his successor. Frank Holman III, who now lives in Waretown, narrowly beat Frank Sadeghi of Toms River by less than 30 votes. Holman announced his decision to step down as the Ocean County Republican chair earlier this year. He endorsed Mastronardy.

Unity

Mastronardy had said his goal in running for chairman was to stop some of the in-fi ghting that has become prevalent among Ocean County Republicans over the last couple of years. “We’re on a mission to get people back in the fold and get away from the underlying current of tension that has resulted in a lot of negativity,” said Mastronardy. “We want to get people back

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Ocean County Health Department COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Schedule for July-August

Walk-ins welcome, but appointments recommended. Clinic schedule dates subject to change.

DATE LOCATION CLINIC HOURS

Monday, July 18th Ocean County Health Department - 175 Sunset Ave. 2PM-6PM Thursday, July 21st Little Egg Harbor Library 10AM-1PM Monday, July 25th Ocean County Health Department - 175 Sunset Ave. 2PM-6PM Wednesday, July 27th Ocean County Connection 11AM-2PM Friday, July 29th Jackson Library 10AM-1PM Monday, August 1st Ocean County Health Department - 175 Sunset Ave. 2PM-6PM Friday, August 5th Jackson Library 10AM-1PM Monday, August 8th Ocean County Health Department - 175 Sunset Ave. 2PM-6PM Friday, August 12th Jackson Library 10AM-1PM Monday, August 15th Ocean County Health Department - 175 Sunset Ave. 2PM-6PM ALL CLINICS OFFER BOOSTER VACCINE TO INDIVIDUALS AGES 5 AND OLDER

Pediatric vaccine for children ages 6 months and older available only at OCHD clinics held on Monday’s in July from 2pm-6pm until further notice. The Pfizer vaccine is for everyone ages 6 months and up. The Moderna pediatric vaccine is available only for children ages 6 months—5 years. Visit www.ochd.org to learn more about COVID vaccines & booster doses. Getting your COVID vaccine or booster is the best protection!