GOP club endorses duo for committee

MANALAPAN - The Manalapan Republican Club voted onApril 15 to endorse the entire Manalapan Republicans line in the June primary for two seats on the Township Committee.

The candidates heading the Manalapan Republicans ticket are Butch Budai, the Manalapan Republican Club president, and Steven Johnson, theManalapan Republican Club director and past club president, according to a press release from the Manalapan Republican Club.

According to the press release, the club also endorsed all of the county committee people who are running on theManalapan Republicans line.

The vote was 21 yes, three no and two abstentions.

Four Republicans are seeking nominations to run for two Township Committee seats in the November general election.

Candidates Ryan Green and William Garcia have been nominated by the Manalapan Republican County Committee to run for office. Green and Garcia will run under the banner of the Monmouth County Republican Organization.

The Manalapan Republican County Committee is a panel of male and female representatives from each voting district in Manalapan. The county committee helps to select candidates to run for office.

Budai commented on the club's endorsement of himself and Johnson, saying, "Tonight the Republican Party showed that it remains united.We are prepared to move forward and complete the change of this government which began last year with the election of Susan Cohen."

"We are proud that our party is focused on bettering the climate in Manalapan and restoring a positive atmosphere and public service to local government," Johnson said.

The top two vote-getters in the June 3 Republican primary will have their names placed on the November ballot.

The Manalapan Republican Club meets on the third Tuesday of every month. New members are always welcome to join, according to the press release.

According to its bylaws, the purpose of the club is to advance the interests of the Republican Party in Manalapan, Monmouth County, New Jersey, and at the national level.

Manalapan Democrats have nominated Michelle Roth and Donald Holland to run for the two available Township Committee seats. Roth is a current member of the committee and is serving as mayor in 2008. Roth and Holland will be unchallenged in the Democratic primary.