McMorrow honored

RED BANK - Retiring Freeholder Director Barbara McMorrow received a standing ovation here at the local union hall and gifts from Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Victor Scudiery.

She's not running for reelection this year, as she must contend with a serious illness. Hoping to succeed her, Middletown Committeeman Sean Byrnes and fomer Neptune Mayor Mike Beson will wage a contest for the county committee's backing today to run against Republican John Curley of Middletown.

For the moment, it was all McMorrow.

"As they say in Spamelot, I'm not dead yet," she told the packed hall. "I know in time, I'll be feeling well. The best medicine is being with all of you, because we're family."

"I am closing the door right now," she added. "I'm not locking it and throwing away the key. I intend to continue to serve on the Board of Chosen Freeholders through the year."

With Gov. Jon Corzine also onstage with Freeholder John D'Amico and Freeholder Amy Mallet, Scudiery said to the retiring freeholder director, "Thank you, Barbara. You are the heart of the Democratic Party."

Said the governor in his remarks later, “Barbara, the people in this room are who they are because you have shown the courage to go forward.”

A former Howell High School principal first elected to the Freeholder Board in 2006, McMorrow choked up as she ended her own speech with husband Patrick in the audience.

"I thank you for making me the first Democrat elected to the Freeholder Board in 20 years and the first woman (Democratic) Freeholder Director," she told the county committee.