Squan GOP Mulls Replacement Picks

The Manasquan Republican Committee is close to finalizing its list of three names to possibly fill the Borough Council seat by Don Grasso last month, GOP Chairman Rich Dunne said Tuesday. 

The GOP committee met behind closed doors Monday to discuss the three candidates it will recommend to the governing body at its May 7 meeting, and Dunne said that while the party is still deliberating, the list should be finalized within days. 

The Borough Council is expected to receive the list of three potential replacements at its next meeting and will have 15 days to elect a new council member by majority vote to finish Grasso's term, which expires at the end of the year. 

Dunne said that while the list of names floated around at was narrowed down, others were added to the discussion at Monday's meeting. Dunne, however, declined to identify the new candidates. 

The Republican candidates for the two council seats up for grabs in  —  and Greg Olivera — are likely to fill two of the spots on the GOP's list of three, but the final pick is still up in the air, officials have said.

Republican Club President Bill Giunco, who was as the potential third name on the list, has said he would only put his hat in the ring in an emergency. 

That leaves Robert Ferrante, Richard Norris, Lou Cocozza and whomever else the GOP discussed at its Monday meeting as possible picks for the third spot. 

Ferrante, Norris and Cocozza were named to the party's short-list at last week's GOP Club meeting. 

Giunco has said he'd like to see at least one woman considered for the job, as well. 

Dunne has said each person on the list should be able to work with the other council members and have the interests of Manasquan, not personal gain, at heart.