TOMS RIVER-Former Lacey Township Mayor John C. Parker was honored with a grand reception this weekend by the Southern Ocean County Conservative Republican PAC, a group of independent conservative Republicans working diligently to raise money for Ocean County Republican candidates in this year’s general election.
Berkeley Township Councilman John Bacchione served as master of ceremony for the event which drew over 200 supporters, friends and family of Parker.
Dignitaries in attendance at the ceremony included New Jersey State Senator Samuel Thompson (D-12), Berkeley Mayor Carmen Amato and other leaders from the southern municipalities of Ocean County.
Parker served as police officer in Lacey Township and also served as councilman, but his biggest contribution came while he was elected 7 times to be mayor of the township. He now serves on the Ocean County Municipal Utilities Authority.
“This event was about honoring a man who has dedicated 69 years of his life to Ocean County, John Parker,” Bacchione said. “I’m honored today to be honoring a man of such statute and we’re happy to have him. He’s made a name for himself in a good way.”
South Toms River Councilman Oscar Cradle started the morning breakfast off with a prayer.
Berkeley Council Mayor Carmen Amato presented Parker with a proclamation from the township honoring Parker’s service to the greater Ocean County community during his lifetime. Amato praised Parker’s long career and service to the community.
Casey Parker, John’s son spoke of growing up in the home of a man who gave much of his life back to his community.
“We realized that dad was put on this earth to serve the community and we had to share him with the rest of the world,” Parker said of his dad.
The event, Organized by conservative Republicans in Ocean County was also focused on raising money to stop the Democrat “Blue Wave” that has swept the northern sections of the county including Brick Township and Toms River. Over $40,000 was raised to support conservative Republican candidates in towns like Berkeley Township, South Toms River and Lacey. Organizers said they will also be supporting the Ocean County Board of Freeholders candidates Jack Kelly and Virginia Haines, along with Sheriff Michael Mastronardy.
Despite a call from Ocean County GOP Chairman Frank Holman to boycott the event, the event was a resounding success for the growing conservative Republican caucus in Ocean County.
Photos by Joseph Rudy Rullo.
