An emotional Monmouth County Freeholder Director Barbara J. McMorrowannounced today at theFreeholder Board'sregularly scheduled work meeting that she would not pursue reelection this year.
“Many of you who know me well, have known that during the past few months I have been dealing with a number of health issues," McMorrow read with difficulty from a statement."Unfortunately, they have not been resolved. I have made a very difficult and painful decision.
“I will not seek re-election to the Board of Chosen Freeholders this year. I will make my best effort to continue to serve the people of Monmouth County for the remainder of my term and will focus the time and energy that a re-election campaign requires on regaining my health.”
She left the meeting in tears.
Sources said the Freeholder Director confronts a serious physical health ailment.
The Monmouth County Democratic Party convention, which had been scheduled for this Saturday, has been rescheduled for the following Saturday.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Director McMorrow during this difficult time,” said Democratic County Chairman Victor V. Scudiery. “We ask that everyone respect the Freeholder’s privacy.”
A former teacher and principal and Howell High School, McMorrow three years ago became the first Democrat in nearly two decades to break the GOP lock on the freeholder board. Democrats John D’Amico and Amy Mallet subsequently joined her with back-to-back year victories respectively to swing control of the county into Democratic hands.
Popular among Democrats and Republicans and known for her independence on the issues, McMorrow, a resident of Freehold Twp.,became freeholder director in her last year of her first term in office as she prepared for reelection.
Seen by many Republicans as unbeatable as recently as late 2008, McMorrow infuriated members of her own party, most notably D’Amico, who read her as too independent. Democratic State Chairman Joe Cryan declared his absolute commitment to McMorrow as a freeholder candidate despite suggestions by party members to replace her.
Long enamored of her bipartisan approach and winning personality, the GOP found a conspicuous opening last month when McMorrow and the Democrats approved the hiring of former freeholder candidate Glenn Mason of Hazlet as emergency management coordinator. Former Red Bank Councilman John Curley, a Republican who ran unsuccessfully for freeholder last year, has geared up to run again, in part galvanized by the Mason hiring.
Alert to the backlash of skepticism today’s announcement would bring given the intra-party clash and the building political season, Monmouth County Democrats in the aftermath of McMorow's announcment today shut down the drama of recent weeks as they made it clear the party is not discharging McMorrow and that the Freeholder Director is not walking away from the party.
“This is real, this is serious,” said Monmouth County Democratic Party Spokesman Michael Mangan. “This is about her health.”
