Former freeholder changes political party affiliation

Barbara McMorrow is back on a governing body.

McMorrow, who previously served on the Borough Council in Freehold Borough and on the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders, was expected to be named to a seat on the Freehold Township Committee in Freehold Township on July 27.

She will succeed Dorothy Avallone, who retired from the governing body on July 13.

McMorrow, who served as a Democrat in Freehold Borough and on the county governing body, said she is now a registered Republican.

“I made the decision to (change party affiliation) long before all this (replacing Avallone) happened,” she said. “It was for personal reasons. I am really humbled and honored to have this appointment and to return to public service.”

All five members of the Township Committee are Republicans.

McMorrow has been serving on the Freehold Township Zoning Board of Adjustment and on the Freehold Borough Housing Authority. The retired educator is the vice president of the Legal Aid Society of Monmouth County.

She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Info Age and she was appointed this year as a board member of the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore. McMorrow is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Monmouth County Parks.

She said she is anxious to begin her service on the Township Committee. Mc- Morrow noted that over the years when she served as a council member in Freehold Borough and as a freeholder, she worked with officials in Freehold Township.

McMorrow said she has already met with Township Administrator Thomas Antus and Assistant Township Administrator Peter Valesi to get up to speed on issues affecting Freehold Township.

“In Freehold Township, taxes are of great importance, as they are in all municipalities. One thing that is of great concern to us is working with this (new state-imposed) 2 percent cap (on tax increases). We are going to work hard to keep as many services as we can. This is going to be very difficult to do with a 2 percent cap,” she said, adding that after meeting with Antus and Valesi, she believes Freehold township is “in very good shape.”

“All towns will have to learn how to govern with less of everything,” McMorrow said. “We are not unique, however. This will impact all municipalities, not just Freehold Township.”

Mayor Anthony Ammiano welcomed McMorrow to the governing body.

“I think Barbara is a phenomenal person and I believe all of Freehold Township knows her record of working for the people,” Ammiano said. “She always does the right thing for the taxpayer and people know this. Whenever I needed help or guidance for Freehold Township, she was there for us along with other members of the Monmouth County freeholders. Whenever we needed help, the county would work hand-in-hand with us and she was a part of that.”

When an individual leaves a governing body, the political party of the person who steps down from the dais submits several names for consideration as a replacement.

Ammiano said that when Avallone announced she would be retiring, several people did speak to him about submitting their name for consideration, but he said the prospective candidates believed that Mc- Morrow was the most qualified and presented the most impressive credentials.

“I believe everyone knows she submitted her credentials and they decided that with her experience and qualifications she was the best person for the position. They also knew she would hit the ground running,” the mayor said.

McMorrow taught English for almost 20 years at Freehold High School in Freehold Borough. Later, she was the supervisor of the Department of English at Howell High School, before being named assistant principal and then principal at Howell. She retired as Howell’s principal in 2003.