News from Lakewood and beyond

IT wasn’t too many years ago that the thought of Orthodox Jews holding public office in the greater Lakewood area — outside of the Lakewood Township Committee — was a laugher. But here we are, with the third such candidate in two years in a prime position to take office.

On Tuesday night, Sam Ellenbogen, an accomplished activist and Toms River resident, graciously accepted an endorsement for county commissioner from the Ocean County GOP Club. If history is any indicator, the nod makes him a shoo-in for the office.

If elected, Ellenbogen would be the first member of the Orthodox Jewish community to hold county-wide office. In breaking such a barrier, he would join Asseamblyman Avi Schnall, who is up for reelection this year; and Jackson Council vice president Mordy Burnstein.

“At a time when one in five residents of Ocean County are frum,” Sam told Mishpacha, “we felt it was time to have someone to represent the community, as well as all of Ocean County.”

He was approached about running by Ocean County GOP boss George Gilmore — whose recommendation carries significant weight in determining who gets on the ballot.

Leading askanim had long considered putting a candidate forward to advocate for the community’s many needs, which they felt were being largely ignored by the county. Rabbanim and askanim from Beth Medrash Govoha are backing the move, a source told Mishpacha.

Two years ago, when longtime commissioner Joe Vicari retired, Lakewood Township deputy mayor Menashe Miller toyed with the idea of running, even visiting county offices to file the paperwork. It was ultimately decided that he was needed in Lakewood, and he threw his support behind Frank Sadeghi. Two additional commissioners retired in quick succession, but Gilmore backed other allies, while promising that the frum community would get the next open seat.

The wait was not long. The final two commissioners retired this year, completing Gilmore’s purge of all the county board’s longtime members within two years. Ellenbogen, currently commissioner and treasurer of the Ocean County Utilities Authority, was nominated for the seat.

Sam is committed to making sure county infrastructure keeps up with the pace of growth in the communities in Lakewood and the surrounding towns.

“Growth is nice,” he said, “but smart growth is what is important. We want to make sure to preempt the risk of some of the issues we are facing today, in the developing parts of the county.”

This means widening key county roads that run through the area, adding traffic lights, and installing sidewalks, among other key infrastructure upgrades. Other programs of concern include county parks, buildings, and the Ocean Ride senior citizens’ transportation service, which is growing in popularity in the community.

“The county’s budget last year was $650 million, and is going to be about $680 million this year,” Ellenbogen said. “Everyone deserves their fair share of that funding.”

An obscure lawsuit filed by first-term US Senator Andy Kim could harm Ellenbogen’s chances, though.

For decades, the names of primary candidates in New Jersey were arranged on the ballot in columns, sorted by the club, or sub-party, that endorsed them. The Ocean County GOP Club candidate held a prime position, usually, in Column A, which was worth a large number of votes from people who voted straight party tickets headed by a favorite candidate for president or governor.

Last year, then-congressman Andy Kim was facing off against Tammy Murphy, wife of Governor Phil Murphy, for the Democratic nomination for Senate. Kim was leading by most metrics, but Murphy —due to her position — was running on the ticket that would be given the prime spot on the ballot. Kim sued to stop it, and won. Now, candidates in a primary election are grouped by seat they are vying for, with no “party line.” This takes away a significant advantage for Ocean County GOP Club–endorsed candidates.

Ellenbogen is still likely to win the Republican nomination. He is currently unopposed, and the club’s endorsement gives him access to its funding, and discourages other candidates, who do not have funds, from tossing their hats in the ring.

A Democrat has not won a seat on the Ocean County board since the 1980s.

More Is Less

New Jersey governor Phil Murphy’s ideas for the state budget, outlined in a speech last week, showcased how more can be less.

Murphy’s proposal calls for the state to spend more in the next fiscal year than ever before — $58.1 billion dollars, with a projected deficit of $1.2 billion and an emergency slush fund of $6.9 billion. Appropriations for key programs important to the frum community remain more or less the same — but that’s not good news.

“That amounts to a loss for us,” says Shlomo Schorr, director of New Jersey’s Agudah office. “With the rapid growth of the community, plus rising inflation, a flat budget means less funding per capita for our priorities.”

Schorr hopes the Agudah will be able to obtain increased funding as the proposal works through four-month long legislative process, before Murphy signs a final spending plan in late June. “We’re aiming for increases in remedial education funding for nonpublic schools, expanded eligibility for school lunch subsidies, and security grants, among other items.”

This year, the final budget is likely to change dramatically from the initial proposal. Nearly half of the state’s funding — $26 billion — comes from the federal government, which is chopping handouts like the day after Purim. Over $20 billion in federal funding goes to the NJ Family Care Medicaid program, but the Trump administration wants to reduce overall Medicaid funding by $880 billion. Cuts to Medicaid could throw the entire state budget out of whack, or lead to significant cut in eligibility for the program upon which many Lakewood families rely.

“The [state Department of Human Services] commissioner said she envisions as much as $5 billion potentially being cut,” Schorr shared with Mishpacha. “But there is really no way to know what the final program will look like.”

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1052)