TOMS RIVER-Was quid pro quo in play when it came down to the endorsement of a new chairman for the Ocean County Republican Party? New Jersey Election Commission filings by Freeholder Virginia Haines, who insiders say was the architect behind the endorsement of Frank B. Holman, III received sizable campaign donations from Holman’s firm prior to the election. Haines also received financial contributions from the law firm owned by Jerry Dasti and Assemblyman Gregory P. McGuckin.
Haines’ campaign has raised $52,634 to date.
Prior to the election, Holman donated $1,200 to Haines campaign.
Dasti and McGuckin’s firm donated $5,200.
Haines also received $5,200 from former Ocean County Chairman George Gilmore’s GOPAC election fund.
We reached out to Ocean County GOP Executive Director Tom Bonfonti to ask about the donations made by the key figures in Holman’s rise to power, but have yet to receive a response.
Haines came under fire for her defense of Holman’s firm taking in millions of dollars annually and donating tens of thousands to New Jersey Democrats, saying “That’s just how it’s always been done”.