TOMS RIVER, NJ – Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore suffered a setback in his quest to unseat incumbent assemblyman Greg McGuckin and to replace John Catalano with his own picks.
Gilmore’s handpicked opponents, Cathy Lindenbaum and Ashley Lamb failed to get the required ten signatures to vie for the Monmouth County GOP’s endorsement for Assembly in District 10.
The Gilmore girls received only nine signatures, falling short of the minimum required to compete at the Monmouth GOP Convention.
Paul Kanitra, who was tapped early on by Gilmore to run against McGuckin and John Catalano will now receive the endorsement uncontested. Sources claim Gilmore has been pressuring the popular Point Pleasant Boro mayor to stand down and make way for his chosen candidates. Kanitra has refused Gilmore’s requests and will now run with McGuckin on the party line in Monmouth.
Kanitra and McGuckin are now favorites to win the Ocean County line at the Ocean County GOP Convention in March.
The victory by Kanitra spoils Gilmore’s plan to leave McGuckin without a qualified running mate.
In recent days, Gilmore persuaded Catalano to instead run for mayor in Brick Township in an effort to clear the way for Lamb, a hairdresser, and Cathy Lindenbaum, the former president of the New Jersey Parent Teacher’s Association.
Monmouth County makes up 10% of the District 10 voting base.
Lamb and Lindenbaum will now face off against McGuckin and Kanitra at the Ocean County GOP convention as both McGuckin and Gilmore continue to battle for control of the Ocean County GOP.
This week, sources told Shore News Network that Gilmore’s chairmanship could soon be challenged, possibly as soon as the upcoming convention. Sources cite Gilmore’s connections to Democrat Assemblyman Vin Gopal, a frontrunner to get the Democrat nominee for Governor in 2025. Gilmore has also been meeting with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy in recent months along with Gopal.
This week, Gilmore ally Sam Thompson switched political parties after being told by anti-Gilmore operatives that he would not be endorsed as the GOP candidate in November in his District 12 race.
Thompson, a two-time Trump delegate and anti-abortion lawmaker, is now seeking the Democrat nominee, which could be likely through the rumored deal brokered between Gilmore, Gopal and Murphy.
Republicans in Ocean County have become cautious of Gilmore’s business and political dealings with high-powered Democrats of late.
In another setback for Gilmore, another Gilmore girl, Stephanie Fila has flown the coup. Fila, who served as Gilmore’s executive director prior to Gilmore’s federal conviction, returned after Gilmore defeated Sheriff Michael Mastronardy for chairman in June.
She has been replaced reportedly by the wife of Berkeley Township Councilman John Baccione.
Note: All information in this report provided by GOP insiders in Ocean and Monmouth County who wish to remain anonymous out of fear of reprisal.