Traditional Republicans of Ocean County leader Joseph Haelig has congratulated the winners in local elections in Manchester and Jackson for “performing a unique and important public service in dealing a body blow to the greed and ambition of fake Republican Boss George Gilmore."

In Jackson, former Mayor Mike Kafton, a Democrat, was elected to the Council along with Republican Michael Reina, and Roberta “Bobbie” Rivera. Reina was the top vote-getter, but the whole trio won by an unprecedented margin of nearly 2 to 1.

Haelig noted that Boss Gilmore, a pay-to-play lawyer, had “sucked the community nearly dry” as Jackson Township attorney, as he and several other lawyers billed the township an astounding $1.4 million in “legal” fees in less than two years since the change of government in July 2006.

Haelig said the rout was the same in Manchester as a slate backed by Mayor Mike Fressola beat a slate supported by Gilmore and the local Republican Club.

The winners, Ken Vanderziel, Fred Trutkoff, both incumbents, and newcomer to the governing body Warren Reiter were elected by 2 to 1 margins.

The Fressola slate is known as the “Continued Good Government Team” whose predecessors are the ones who deposed former Republican Mayor Joseph Portash in 1988 and changed the form of the local government following a wave of corruption.

“Gilmore raised all of the money for the Republican campaign, and would have been named township attorney with the usual wave of corrupt patronage appointments if the fake Republicans won,” Haelig said.

Traditional Republicans are running a slate against Boss Gilmore candidates in the June 3rd Republican Primary elections: Suzanne Penna for Freeholder, Pete McCarthy for County Clerk, and Don Lombardi for Surrogate.

TROOC is also backing 4th District Congressman Chris Smith for re-election, Justin Murphy for Congress in the 3rd District, and Murray Sabrin for U. S. Senate.

“We are heartened by the developments in Manchester and Jackson,” Haelig said. “The whole county is sick and tired of being swindled and cheated by Gilmore and his greedy political machine. We think the voters may be prepared to do it again on June 3rd.”