BY MICHELLE ROSENBERG
Staff Writer

Republicans were once again successful in their bids for county offices last week, as Amy Handlin and Robert Clifton swept two seats on the Board of Chosen Freeholders, and Joseph Oxley was re-elected as sheriff.

The incumbent Handlin, of Middletown, has served on the board since 1989. The associate professor of marketing at Monmouth University, West Long Branch, is getting ready to serve her sixth term on the board.

“This has been a long year, and a year of great change. Change is very challenging and can be difficult and painful, but it has all been worth it,” Handlin said during her victory speech at a Monmouth County Republican victory party in West Long Branch Nov. 2.

Her running mate, Matawan Mayor Robert Clifton, is getting ready to serve his first term on the board. He will be sworn in Jan. 4.

“I feel great and I look forward to it,” Clifton said of his victory.

During his victory speech, Clifton said that the campaign process had made for a long six months, and he was very appreciative of all the hard work and efforts put in by his running mates, all the volunteers and county Republican Chairman Fred Niemann.

Clifton is preparing to step down as Matawan mayor, a position he has held since 1996, when he was appointed by Matawan Borough’s Republican Party to replace former Mayor Robert W. Shuey, who resigned. Clifton was then elected in 1997 to complete the remainder of Shuey’s term.

Similar events will take place in Matawan this year, as Clifton gets ready for his transition. The borough’s Republican Party will appoint a new mayor, who will have to run next year to complete the remainder of Clifton’s term.

Clifton said he doesn’t know when exactly he will step down, but that he will meet this week with borough Republicans to create a timeline.

Handlin and Clifton beat Democrat candidates Steve Morlino, of Howell, and Jeffrey Pringle, of Tinton Falls.

Handlin led the field with 157,171 votes, followed by Clifton with 144,872, Morlino with 108,003 and Pringle with 111,528 votes, according to unofficial results released by the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office.

Morlino, the executive director of capital facilities and construction programs in the Newark public school system, and who lost a bid to win a seat in the state Legislature in 2003, said he believed the focus on the national election for the presidency was a factor in the Democrats’ loss at the county level.

“I definitely think the focus on the national race had a lot to do with the local results,” Morlino said. “When you look at the spread of how much the Republicans went for President Bush at the local level, it had a lot to do with the local races. The Republicans apparently went right down the line when they voted.”

Morlino did not rule out running for public office again.

“I think I’ll run again in the future,” Morlino said. “I don’t know whether it will be next year, but I will run again. I think I have something to offer.”

Also victorious on election night was the incumbent Republican Sheriff Joseph Oxley, who defeated Democrat Daniel Gibney. According to the county clerk’s figures, Oxley received 155,563 votes and Gibney received 110,182 votes.

Oxley has been the Monmouth County sheriff since January 1996.

“I couldn’t be prouder, I couldn’t be happier than representing you for three more years as your sheriff,” Oxley said during his election night victory speech. “I’m honored and humbled. The victories tonight are tremendous numbers.”

“You have transformed Monmouth County into a strong Republican county,” Niemann said during his speech. “The strength of our party is in the strength of our volunteers. We will always appreciate everything you do. … We rose to the challenge this year. If we can get through another year, the future is endless.”