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Monmouth County Democratic Organization Chairman Vin Gopal announced Monday night that he will challenge Republican incumbent Senator Jennifer Beck for the District 11 seat she’s held for two terms.

“As a small business owner, I know what it’s like to build a business from the ground up and to create jobs – to go without taking a paycheck in order to make payroll,” Gopal, 31, [at right] said via a news release.  “I’ve felt the impact that Trenton’s over-regulation, suffocating taxation, and red-tape has on the Monmouth County economy and on the ability of families to make ends meet.”

Gopal, a Long Branch resident, said he will resign this week from his volunteer position as party chairman in order to focus on his campaign.

Vice Chair Mary Foster of Middletown will take over as Chairwoman until a special election can be held, Asbury Park Democrat Chair Giuseppe Grillo confirmed.

Gopal, in his first event as a Senate candidate, will attend The Asbury Park Democrats Holiday Party 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Asbury Park Yacht Club, located at 1000 Ocean Avenue on the Asbury Park boardwalk. His running mate Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling will also be in attendance, Grillo said.

The 18-town 11th legislative district includes Asbury Park and the Greater Asbury Park area — Ocean Township, Neptune, Ocean Grove, Allenhurst, Loch Arbour and Deal.

Born in Neptune and raised in Freehold, Gopal has served on the Monmouth County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as chair of its Government Affairs Committee, as Hazlet Township Business Owners Association President; and as a Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth County member. He also served as a volunteer EMT for the Colts Neck and Freehold First Aid Squads currently volunteers with the Long Branch Fire Department.

While Gopal and Beck will need to secure their party’s nomination, both are considered frontrunners as no one else from their respective parties has thrown their hats in the ring.

Beck [at right], said in a written statement that she will be running her campaign on a “record of being an independent, thoughtful voice for Monmouth County’s residents.

“I take great pride in my ability to reach across the aisle and get things done for Monmouth County,” Beck said. “I’m proud to have stood up to my party on issues that are important to everyday residents, like my opposition to the billion dollar gas tax hike, opposing the Governor’s book deal and pay raises for the political elite, defending our State’s horse racing industry, opposing fracking, promoting smart guns, voting for marriage equality, and advocating for women’s health funding.”

The race is expected to be one the more competitive runs in the state following the surprise 2015 defeat of Republican Assembly incumbents Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande by Democrats Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey.

Below is Gopal’s statement in its entirety:

Today, I am announcing my candidacy for State Senate in Monmouth County’s 11th Legislative District. As a small business owner, I know what it’s like to build a business from the ground up and to create jobs – to go without taking a paycheck in order to make payroll. I know what Monmouth County residents are going through.

I’ve felt the impact that Trenton’s over-regulation, suffocating taxation, and red-tape has on the Monmouth County economy and on the ability of families to make ends meet. And I understand that the selfish backroom dealing of Trenton insiders like Senator Jennifer Beck – who has repeatedly changed her vote on critical issues to serve her own political interests – have had a detrimental impact, not only on Monmouth County, but on our state for far too long.

After 20 years as a lobbyist and professional politician, Senator Beck has mastered the art of political theater and has severely lost touch with the constituents who have sent her to Trenton to represent them. For 7 years, Senator Beck served as Governor Chris Christie’s reliable foot soldier, supporting nearly every initiative championed by the Governor. Beck even went so far as to vote against legislation that she herself authored after the Governor expressed his opposition to it. That bill was actually a good one – it would have protected our children and families by keeping guns out of the wrong hands. But rather than stand up for what was right for Monmouth County, Beck chose her political interests over her constituents and voted against her own bill.

That was not the first and certainly not the last time Senator Beck flip flopped on the issues in favor of political expediency. She did it on women’s access to healthcare and she did it on marriage equality. She very vocally voted against the gas tax, then endorsed and continues to support Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon in his bid for State Senate despite the fact that he authored the legislation that imposed the 23-cent gas hike on all of us. She voted against legislation that would provide relief to crowded schools and then was among the first in line to grab the funding despite her “no” vote. She spent a decade telling voters that she was fighting to lower property taxes, but imposed the harmful ADP Tax Program on Monmouth County property taxpayers – a program that imposed crushing tax increases and led to a criminal investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor.

Monmouth County needs a Senator who will battle with the insiders in Trenton, not just show up and act like a puppet. We need a Senator who will spend every day fighting to lower property taxes, one who will work constantly to eliminate the red tape imposed on small businesses. And we need a Senator who is going to do what’s right in funding women’s health care policies, not use the Senate to fulfill their own personal wishes and ambitions. As your Senator, I will spend every day fighting against Trenton insiders and fighting for the needs of working people. That is my pledge to the residents of Monmouth County.

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