Ocean County Chapter Of Sierra Club Endorses Burlington Freeholder For 3rd District Seat

by Patricia A. Miller

The Ocean County Chapter of the Sierra Club has endorsed Burlington County Freeholder Aimee Belgard for the Third District Congressional seat soon to be vacated by Jon Runyon.

"Ms. Belgard has shown strong leadership and a real commitment to protecting our environment and we need that leadership in the U.S. Congress," the club said in a statement today. "There she will be an environmental champion, continuing her fight to protect open space, promote recycling, and defend our environment."

The Sierra Club's endorsement came less than a day before the Brick Township Republican Organization voted Monday night to back Toms River Councilman Maurice "Mo Hill." The Toms River Republican organization has already endorsed Hill.

It appears the Ocean County Republican organization is backing an out-of-town candidate for U.S. Congress in the third congressional district.

PolitickerNJ.com has reported that the county organization is backing former Randolph Mayor Tom MacArthur to run for Runyan's seat.

The face-off between Hill, a local canddiate, and MacArthur, who said he will move to Ocean County full time to run for the seat, has reportedly created a rift within county GOP circles. The race has also attracted the attention of former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan, who recently moved to Lavallette in hopes of taking the nomination.

Hill, on Monday, told PolitickerNJ.com that “they’ll have to take me out kicking and screaming,” because he would not quit the race.

Berkeley Township Council President James J. Byrnes has also vowed to stay in the race "until the end.