Monmouth County, New Jersey

Monmouth County voters decide Tuesday whether Republicans retain full control of county government. Incumbent Commissioner Erik Anderson is paired with Tony Perry, longtime Middletown mayor, against Democrats Chelsey Tanner and Sofia J. Ugarte. Republican incumbent Ross F. Licitra is not seeking reelection. The GOP ticket emphasizes fiscal restraint and the county's AAA bond rating, while Democrats focus on workforce support and accessible county services.

Voters will also choose the county surrogate, overseeing probate, estates, and guardianships. Republican incumbent Maureen T. Raisch, seeking a second term, points to administrative modernizations, while Democratic challenger Anthony L. Cherry Jr., a defense attorney, is campaigning on expanding court accessibility.

In October 1977, 122 members of the Matawan Regional Teachers Association pleaded not guilty to contempt of court before New Jersey Superior Court Judge Merritt Lane Jr. in Freehold. The teachers were accused of defying a Sept. 16 order from Judge Thomas Yaccarino directing them back to work during what became the longest teachers' strike in Monmouth County history, then in its 12th day. If convicted, teachers faced up to six months in jail and $1,000 fines, while the union itself could also be fined. Judge Lane scheduled separate hearings for high school, middle school, and elementary/central office staff through late October and denied a request for jury trials.

Negotiations between the MRTA and the regional Board of Education remained deadlocked over a three-year economic package, with union president Marie Panos accusing the board of inflating cost estimates to mislead the public.

In related historical coverage, Ocean County, New Jersey posted the state's largest crime increase for the first half of 1977, part of a decade of rapid population growth in the once-rural county.

New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell resigned Friday, a day after Gov. Mikie Sherrill released a 61-page report from a four-month investigation, led by former Attorney General Christopher Porrino's law firm, substantiating findings of sexual harassment and repeated ethics violations. Investigators found credible evidence that Caldwell made an unwanted romantic advance toward a staffer's friend, sought a promotion for a state employee he was secretly dating, and brought unpaid guests to ticketed events despite prior warnings. Sherrill said the episode reflected a longstanding Trenton culture of overlooking sexual harassment that her administration would no longer tolerate.

Caldwell, who is Black, suggested race played a role in the allegations and disputes the report's findings, saying he resigned to avoid distracting from Sherrill's administration; days later he preached at his church about false accusations. Acting Comptroller Shirley Emehelu now oversees the Division of Elections ahead of the midterms, while Senate President Nicholas Scutari serves as acting governor when needed. Sherrill has 45 days to name a permanent replacement, with reports suggesting she may favor another Black leader, possibly a woman, for the role.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill both declared states of emergency Friday ahead of a powerful nor'easter expected to bring coastal flooding, strong winds and possible power outages over the weekend. Hochul's declaration covers Nassau, Suffolk, New York City and Westchester, while Sherrill's applies to eight New Jersey counties including Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth and Ocean.

Officials in Manasquan, New Jersey, recommended voluntary evacuations for residents in low-lying areas, particularly elderly and special-needs individuals. Wind gusts topped 30 mph along the coast from New York to North Carolina, with Long Island seeing gusts up to 52 mph. The National Weather Service warned of moderate to locally major flooding, especially in New York City. Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents to prepare as the storm's path shifted closer to the city, bringing heavier rain and stronger winds, and asked New Yorkers to check on their neighbors.