Holman takes Gilmore’s Board of Election seat

Newly-elected Ocean County Republican chairman Frank Holman III will take George Gilmore’s seat on the Board of Elections, the New Jersey Globe has learned.

Following Holman’s 25-vote victory in a special election on Wednesday, three GOP officials huddled to decide that Holman would succeed Gilmore on the vote-counting panel.  A fourth was reached by telephone and concurred.

Gilmore resigned his seat on the Board of Elections on April 23, days after his conviction on federal tax charges.  He resigned as county chairman the following day, after appointing Christopher J. Dasti to replace him.

State Committeewoman Virginia Haines, once a top Gilmore lieutenant, refused to sign nomination papers for Dasti.  That caused Gov. Phil Murphy to reject the documentation, allowing Holman to pick himself.

Gilmore backed Frank Sadeghi, who lost by 25 votes, 254 to 229.  Gilmore’s predecessor and onetime mentor, Joseph Buckalew, supported Holman.

Murphy’s office has said they will expedite the appointment of a new commissioner so that Holman can be seated by the June 4 primary election.