The Battle of Monmouth – for the True Republican

MONMOUTH COUNTY – This is Republican terrain – Donald Trump won here last year by about 40,000 votes.

The upcoming primary, however, rests on precisely what a “true” Republican is.

That debate – really it’s a perennial one – has fueled primary challenges for county commissioner, county clerk and the state Assembly, which is where we turn now.

LD-13 covers 16 Monmouth towns. The incumbents are Assembly members Vicky Flynn and Gerry Scharfenberger. Two years ago, they had no primary opponent.

Now in this new world of no county line, they do.

Rich Castaldo is the challenger. He is officially running against both incumbents, but he is clearly targeting Flynn.

Castaldo describes himself as a Republican strategist and communications director and a film writer and producer.

He says he…