Ocean County Democratic Chairman Wyatt Earp will face Stafford Democratic Club President Alison Miller as he seeks to retain the post he’s held since 2005.
Miller faces a tough fight to unseat Earp, who was re-elected in 2022 by 8 percentage points over former Toms River Councilman Terrance Turnbach.
Earp has the support of the top-ranking Democratic municipal elected official in Ocean County, Brick Mayor Lisa Crate.
“Wyatt Earp’s leadership has helped Democrats build lasting organizations at the local level,” Crate said. “The Democratic victories we’ve seen in Brick did not happen by accident. They came from years of organizing, supporting candidates, and building relationships across the community.”
Kathy Frisch, who became active in local politics as a field organizer for Barack Obama in 2008, will run on Earp’s slate for vice chair. The incumbent, Emma Mammano, is not seeking re-election. Dan Ward is running to replace Frisch as corresponding secretary, and Gabe Franco, a voter protection attorney for Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign, wants to succeed Ward as recording secretary. Nick Montenegro is seeking re-election as treasurer, and David Dolan is running for sergeant-at-arms.
Miller is running with Owen Bros for vice chairman, Pat Trotter for recording secretary, Laurie Singer for corresponding secretary, Casey Bailey for treasurer, and Kaitlyn Beacham for sergeant-at-arms. Singer replaced Evan Phalon on the Miller ticket.
Earp is an international representative of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the president of the Monmouth-Ocean Central Labor Council.
He defeated Turnbach, 260 to 204. Mammano defeated Tara Kownacki, 276 to 186. The incumbent, Kathy Russell, did not seek re-election.
The rest of Earp’s slate was also successful. Ward won, 275 to 187, against Greenberg for recording secretary, Frisch was elected corresponding secretary by a 271 to 190 vote over Jennifer Hubert, and Montenegro won the race for treasurer against Cyndi Sabatelli by a vote of 269 to 191.
Mammano praised Earp’s record as county chairman over the last 21 years.
“This team understands that building a county organization takes relationships, consistency, and hard work,” she said. “They have spent years supporting candidates, mentoring volunteers, and helping Democratic clubs grow throughout Ocean County.”