Story and photo by Joseph Sapia
COLTS NECK – State Senator Jennifer Beck has announced she will seek re-election to her 11th District seat in the state Legislature.
“I have worked hard, I am close to the people,” said Beck, a 49-year-old Republican. “I am a voice for the residents. I know the challenges of being in the (political) minority (of the Senate), but I feel I have been an effective voice.”
When asked why she was announcing earlier than usual, and so quickly after the Nov. 8 General Election, Beck said, “It has to do with the hard work required in the 51 weeks ahead to be successful in this district.”
Beside Beck’s hometown of Red Bank, the district is composed of Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Colts Neck, Deal, Eatontown, Freehold, Freehold Township, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Long Branch, Neptune, Neptune Township, Ocean Township, Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Township, Tinton Falls and West Long Branch. The district is considered up for grabs between Republicans and Democrats.
The district’s other two seats are held by Democrats, Assembly members Joann Downey of Freehold Township and Eric Houghtaling of Neptune, who won seats in 2015 previously held by Republicans. Also, Democrats outnumber Republicans in the district, 44,544 to 31,449 as of the General Election.
Beck said she has won races in the past in areas with more registered Democrats, such as in Red Bank where she won a Borough Council seat in the 1990s.
“We overcome differences in parties,” Beck said. “I always have the support of Democrats.” On the other hand, Beck has said she has not always sided with fellow Republican, Gov. Chris Christie.
“I’ve been an independent voice,” Beck said. “I’m driven to do what’s right by the people of Monmouth County.”
Beck’s running mates for two Assembly seats are unknown at this time. Beck said about five people, whom she declined to identify, have expressed interest. But she said the two Republicans who lost the Assembly seats in 2015, Mary Pat Angelini of Ocean Township and Caroline Casagrande of Colts Neck, are not running.
“We are going to take those seats back,” said Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), a Beck supporter.
On the Democratic side, Houghtaling and Downey will be “100 percent on the ballot,” but it is unclear if they will seek both their Assembly seats or one will seek the Senate seat, said Monmouth County Democratic Chair Vin Gopal. Gopal said the county Democratic Party will announce its three-member slate by early January or, if necessary because there are multiple candidates of interest, decide the candidates by convention, probably in March.
COLTS NECK – State Senator Jennifer Beck has announced she will seek re-election to her 11th District seat in the state Legislature.
“I have worked hard, I am close to the people,” said Beck, a 49-year-old Republican. “I am a voice for the residents. I know the challenges of being in the (political) minority (of the Senate), but I feel I have been an effective voice.”
When asked why she was announcing earlier than usual, and so quickly after the Nov. 8 General Election, Beck said, “It has to do with the hard work required in the 51 weeks ahead to be successful in this district.”
Beside Beck’s hometown of Red Bank, the district is composed of Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Colts Neck, Deal, Eatontown, Freehold, Freehold Township, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Long Branch, Neptune, Neptune Township, Ocean Township, Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Township, Tinton Falls and West Long Branch. The district is considered up for grabs between Republicans and Democrats.
The district’s other two seats are held by Democrats, Assembly members Joann Downey of Freehold Township and Eric Houghtaling of Neptune, who won seats in 2015 previously held by Republicans. Also, Democrats outnumber Republicans in the district, 44,544 to 31,449 as of the General Election.
Beck said she has won races in the past in areas with more registered Democrats, such as in Red Bank where she won a Borough Council seat in the 1990s.
“We overcome differences in parties,” Beck said. “I always have the support of Democrats.” On the other hand, Beck has said she has not always sided with fellow Republican, Gov. Chris Christie.
“I’ve been an independent voice,” Beck said. “I’m driven to do what’s right by the people of Monmouth County.”
Beck’s running mates for two Assembly seats are unknown at this time. Beck said about five people, whom she declined to identify, have expressed interest. But she said the two Republicans who lost the Assembly seats in 2015, Mary Pat Angelini of Ocean Township and Caroline Casagrande of Colts Neck, are not running.
“We are going to take those seats back,” said Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), a Beck supporter.
On the Democratic side, Houghtaling and Downey will be “100 percent on the ballot,” but it is unclear if they will seek both their Assembly seats or one will seek the Senate seat, said Monmouth County Democratic Chair Vin Gopal. Gopal said the county Democratic Party will announce its three-member slate by early January or, if necessary because there are multiple candidates of interest, decide the candidates by convention, probably in March.
Beck’s announcement came Tuesday, Nov. 15, at county Republican headquarters in Colts Neck. There, Beck was surrounded by about 50 people, including Sheriff Shaun Golden, the county Republican chair; Senators Joseph M. Kyrillos Jr. and Thomas H. Kean Jr.; O’Scanlon; Lillian G. Burry and Serena DiMaso, both members of the county Board of Freeholders; and County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon.
“We are here to support you and your endeavors, Jen Beck,” Golden said.
“This is a great crowd and a credit to Jennifer, because it’s a rainy, kind of cold day out there,” Kyrillos said.
“I am humbled by all of you coming out today,” said Beck, who owns a marketing and media relations company. “I’m going to take my accomplishments and vision to the people. I want to commit to all you how seriously I take this job.”
Beck, seeking a four-year term, has been a senator since 2008 and an Assembly member for the two years prior to that. Before that, she served six years on the Red Bank Borough Council.
“When you talk about the interest of the taxpayer, Jennifer Beck has a keen insight,” Kean said. “She’s a great senator, great friend and a great role model.”
“She’s one of the most loyal, dear, committed friends you can have,” O’Scanlon said. “That says a lot of her as a senator.”
But Gopal, the Democratic chair, called Beck a “career politician” and a “fierce ally” of Christie.
“Jen Beck is only worried about doing what is best for her political career and her record shows it,” Gopal said.
“We are here to support you and your endeavors, Jen Beck,” Golden said.
“This is a great crowd and a credit to Jennifer, because it’s a rainy, kind of cold day out there,” Kyrillos said.
“I am humbled by all of you coming out today,” said Beck, who owns a marketing and media relations company. “I’m going to take my accomplishments and vision to the people. I want to commit to all you how seriously I take this job.”
Beck, seeking a four-year term, has been a senator since 2008 and an Assembly member for the two years prior to that. Before that, she served six years on the Red Bank Borough Council.
“When you talk about the interest of the taxpayer, Jennifer Beck has a keen insight,” Kean said. “She’s a great senator, great friend and a great role model.”
“She’s one of the most loyal, dear, committed friends you can have,” O’Scanlon said. “That says a lot of her as a senator.”
But Gopal, the Democratic chair, called Beck a “career politician” and a “fierce ally” of Christie.
“Jen Beck is only worried about doing what is best for her political career and her record shows it,” Gopal said.
