By John Burton
Two days into the new year and political attention is turning toward the coming political races, with county Democratic chair Vin Gopal announcing his intention to take on Republican Senator Jennifer Beck.
Gopal on Monday fired the first salvo in the race for the 11th Legislative District with his announcement to run for the party’s nomination for the Senate seat.
“I really think I bring a different set of eyes to some of the problems we’re facing in Trenton,” Gopal said this week.
He hopes to challenge Beck, 50, a Red Bank resident who has been in the Senate since 2008, having served one two-year term in the Assembly.
Gopal is a 31-year-old Long Branch resident who has been the county Democratic chair since 2012. He owns and operates Direct Development, a Hazlet-based marketing, public relations and business development firm. In addition, Gopal publishes Community Magazine, a free publication which is distributed to approximately 30,000 homes around Monmouth County. He has been a board of director’s member for the Monmouth County Chamber of Commerce. He also has established a not-for-profit organization that assists local charities.
Two days into the new year and political attention is turning toward the coming political races, with county Democratic chair Vin Gopal announcing his intention to take on Republican Senator Jennifer Beck.
Gopal on Monday fired the first salvo in the race for the 11th Legislative District with his announcement to run for the party’s nomination for the Senate seat.
“I really think I bring a different set of eyes to some of the problems we’re facing in Trenton,” Gopal said this week.
He hopes to challenge Beck, 50, a Red Bank resident who has been in the Senate since 2008, having served one two-year term in the Assembly.
Gopal is a 31-year-old Long Branch resident who has been the county Democratic chair since 2012. He owns and operates Direct Development, a Hazlet-based marketing, public relations and business development firm. In addition, Gopal publishes Community Magazine, a free publication which is distributed to approximately 30,000 homes around Monmouth County. He has been a board of director’s member for the Monmouth County Chamber of Commerce. He also has established a not-for-profit organization that assists local charities.
After years of building, his business ventures have reached a point where he can step back and concentrate on his own political campaign, Gopal said.
Gopal made an unsuccessful run for the Assembly in 2011.
Gopal criticized Beck for lack of progress, even with eight years of a Republican governor. He also chided the incumbent for flip-flopping on a variety of issues during her legislative tenure. “I think she’s been on both sides of nearly every issue,” he charged, pointing to Beck’s views on different property tax relief proposals and gay marriage.
Gopal made an unsuccessful run for the Assembly in 2011.
Gopal criticized Beck for lack of progress, even with eight years of a Republican governor. He also chided the incumbent for flip-flopping on a variety of issues during her legislative tenure. “I think she’s been on both sides of nearly every issue,” he charged, pointing to Beck’s views on different property tax relief proposals and gay marriage.
“It’s time for a change,” he said.
Beck this week released a statement where she was quick to counterpunch against the prospective opponent.
She called Gopal “Camden County’s hand-picked candidate,” looking to link the Monmouth County Democrat to the Norcross South Jersey Democratic machine, which has provided financial support for some Monmouth County races in the past.
Beck continued by alleging Gopal had “decided that the only path to victory is to try and discredit his opponent rather than speaking about his accomplishments.”
Gopal was planning to resign as county chair effective Thursday at noon. Vice Chair woman Mary Forster, Middletown, will step up and serve as acting county chair until a county convention can be convened to name Gopal’s replacement, he said.
Beck this week released a statement where she was quick to counterpunch against the prospective opponent.
She called Gopal “Camden County’s hand-picked candidate,” looking to link the Monmouth County Democrat to the Norcross South Jersey Democratic machine, which has provided financial support for some Monmouth County races in the past.
Beck continued by alleging Gopal had “decided that the only path to victory is to try and discredit his opponent rather than speaking about his accomplishments.”
Gopal was planning to resign as county chair effective Thursday at noon. Vice Chair woman Mary Forster, Middletown, will step up and serve as acting county chair until a county convention can be convened to name Gopal’s replacement, he said.
Gopal said there have been a handful of candidates who’ve expressed an interest in taking the reins, though he declined to name them.
There were two other Democrats who were considering seeking the 11th District nomination, who Gopal said, now voice support for his campaign.
Gopal has been critical of Monmouth County Republican Chairman Shaun Golden for holding the party position as well as serving as county sheriff, an elected position. Gopal charged that Golden holding both jobs opens the door to ethical conflicts of interest. “And I’m not going to be hypocritical,” leading to his stepping down as the county party head.
There were two other Democrats who were considering seeking the 11th District nomination, who Gopal said, now voice support for his campaign.
Gopal has been critical of Monmouth County Republican Chairman Shaun Golden for holding the party position as well as serving as county sheriff, an elected position. Gopal charged that Golden holding both jobs opens the door to ethical conflicts of interest. “And I’m not going to be hypocritical,” leading to his stepping down as the county party head.
The 11th District has Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Colts Neck, Deal, Eatontown, Freehold Borough and Township, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Long Branch, Neptune City, Neptune Township, Ocean, Red Bank, Shrewsbury Borough and Township, Tinton Falls and West Long Branch.
Monmouth County has largely remained solidly Republican for its state legislators for years, with an occasional Democratic victory. With the most redistricting completed in 2011, the district skews more Democratic with such strongholds as Red Bank, Long Branch and Asbury Park, but Republicans had been able to continue to secure the two Assembly seats and Senate seat in Trenton. That is until November 2015, when an influx of cash and an indifferent GOP campaign caught the Republicans flat-footed, with Democratic challengers Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey ousting Assembly-women Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande.
Monmouth County has largely remained solidly Republican for its state legislators for years, with an occasional Democratic victory. With the most redistricting completed in 2011, the district skews more Democratic with such strongholds as Red Bank, Long Branch and Asbury Park, but Republicans had been able to continue to secure the two Assembly seats and Senate seat in Trenton. That is until November 2015, when an influx of cash and an indifferent GOP campaign caught the Republicans flat-footed, with Democratic challengers Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey ousting Assembly-women Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande.
With the end of Republican Chris Christie’s increasingly unpopular gubernatorial term this year and a wide-open Governor’s race, Democrats suspect there is opportunity to increase their legislative majority and take additional seats in deeply red Monmouth County.
And while he is an entrenched party voice (but is genuinely liked by many Republicans) Gopal said this week “I’ll tell you I’ll go there (Trenton) and be an independent voice of the people of the 11th District.”
And while he is an entrenched party voice (but is genuinely liked by many Republicans) Gopal said this week “I’ll tell you I’ll go there (Trenton) and be an independent voice of the people of the 11th District.”
