Mammano will be Earp running mate in Ocean County

A prominent Ocean County progressive leader will run for vice chair of the county Democratic organization in June on a slate with County Chairman Wyatt Earp.

Earp announced on Tuesday that Emma Mammano will be his running mate when the county committee reorganizes after the June Democratic primary.

“We need to unite the party ahead of the critical midterm election,” said Earp, the president of the Ocean and Monmouth AFL-CIO.  “Emma has shown that she can connect with a new generation of activists which will bring energy and new ideas to the party.”

A Brick resident, Mammano is a former Democratic candidate for State Senate in the 10th legislative district.  She won 37% against State Sen. James Holzapfel (R-Toms River) in 2017 and 31% in a 2021 rematch.

“I am looking forward to bringing an infusion of energy into the Ocean County Democratic party,” stated Mammano.  “In these trying times, it’s more crucial than ever for Democrats to come together to share viewpoints and ideas, and to challenge one another to make the party even stronger.”

Mammano will replace Kathy Russell, a former Brick council president who had been named by Earp as the party’s compliance director.

So far, Earp is unopposed for re-election.  There is speculation that former Toms River Councilman Terrance Turnbach, who lost his re-election bid last year, might run for county chairman.