---

The chairman of the Asbury Park Democratic Organization, Guiseppe “Joe” Grillo, 37, has announced his candidacy for the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders.

Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry and Freeholder Deputy Director Gary J. Rich, Sr., are the Republican incumbents. The five-member Freeholder board runs the county government.

Grillo will seek the county Democratic organization’s backing at its convention on March 22. The election is Nov. 4.

The Republicans have controlled all five freeholder seats since January of 2012, when Democratic Freeholder Amy Mallet lost her seat.

Grillo served as the executive director of the Monmouth County Democratic Organization from July of 2012 to Dec. of 2013, and has been chairman of the Asbury Park Democratic Executive Committee since June of 2012.

Grillo grew up in Freehold. He is a graduate of St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel, earned his Bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy from Rider University and later attained a master’s degree in global affairs from Rutgers University.

He is a partner in his family’s ceramic tile and granite importing business, Ideal Tile Importing. Grillo moved to Asbury Park in 2006, where he lives on Cookman Avenue with his wife, planning board member Seresa Grillo, and their four-year-old daughter, Leonora.

Grillo sought a seat on the Asbury Park City Council during the last May election. He joined the incumbent-led “Forward Asbury Park” ticket, but later dropped out of the race saying the demands of his family and home life made his candidacy “untenable.”

For more information, visit GrilloForFreeholder.com

————————————————————

Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook and Twitter.

---