visited hard-hit New Orleans this month, said

Nine years later, there are people (along the Gulf

Coast) that are still waiting for their money from
the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
But it may be 10 to 20 years before the Shore re-
covers, and it may not be a full recovery, experts
say.
Much of the Shores future hinges on whether
another devastating storm or two hammers the
high-risk region.
Sometimes we find that throughout the coun-
try, people get wiped out once, people want to re-
build. When (they) get wiped out two or three times,
especially three times enough, its time to re-
treat, said Larry A. Larson, a professional engi-
neer and director emeritus at the Association of
State Floodplain Managers, in Madison, Wisconsin,
anational group striving to curb losses from floods.
Sandy wasnt a hurricane when it smashed into
the coast near Brigantine in October 2012. But the
massive storm, which arrived near high tide during
a full moon, caused epic damage in oceanfront and
bay areas. Nineteen months after the storm, the
Shore area is recovering faster than the Gulf Coast
did after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
I do think both New York and New Jersey are
moving ahead a little faster, but recovery takes
time, Larson said. I expect that we will see a better,
a safer rebuild than what we saw in Katrina, for ex-
ample.
Jon K. Miller, research assistant professor at
Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, who
ROAD TO RECOVERY
OUTPACING
THE NEXT ONE
Aerial views show Normandy Beach before and after Sandy. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
Superstorm Sandy may have been an omen of storms to come
By Todd B. Bates @ToddBBatesAPP
Hurricane Sandy approaching N.J. on Oct. 28, 2012
Scan the QR code or visit Sandy.APP.com for past coverage and photos about superstorm Sandy and
recovery efforts at the Shore.
See OMEN, Page A8
Asbury Park Press APP.COM $1.00
),
/sbury Park Press daily

MONDAY 06.02.14
VOLUME 135
NUMBER 131
SINCE 1879
ADVICE C4
CLASSIFIED C6
COMICS C5
LOCAL A3
LOTTERIES A2
OBITUARIES A7
OPINION A9
SPORTS D1
WEATHER D8
YOUR MONEY A6
PRISONER EXCHANGE LIKELY SAVED U.S. SOLDIERS LIFE PAGE 1B
Two heavyweights in Monmouth County Republican
politics are challenging each other for chairman and
leveling charges against each other of conflict of inter-
est or the potential for financial gain.
Sheriff Shaun Golden is battling former state sena-
tor and current GOP leader John O. Bennett III for
chairmanship of the party, just a year after Bennett
successfully ran Goldens sheriffs campaign.
Bennetts supporters question if its a conflict for
Golden to both be chairman and the countys top law en-
forcement officer, questioning whether he would have
undue control over the freeholders, who approve the
sheriffs budget.
Golden, however, insisted theres no conflict with
him running the county Republican Party and being
sheriff because he would not gain financially or person-
ally from the political seat.
There would only be one of us who stands to have a
personal gain in the chairmanship, he said, alluding to
the work Bennetts law firm handles for municipalities.
Republican Party committee members one man
and one woman from each of the 458 voting precincts
who will be elected in Tuesdays primary are scheduled
to vote June 10 on who should be the party chairman.
The question of whether Golden would have a con-
flict was first brought up by the Manalapan Republican
chairman at a meeting of municipal GOP chairmen for
western Monmouth County.
Bennett said the conflict would arise because Gold-
en, if he wins, would oversee campaigning and fund-
raising for an all-Republican county freeholder board,
which is responsible for approving funding for the
sheriffs office.
Bennett said the conflict is not specific to Golden,
who he called a good guy.
Its not about him and its not about me. Its about the
Monmouth
GOP faces
fight to be
chairman
Sheriff challenges Bennett; both
raise conflict-of-interest issues
By Susanne Cervenka @scervenka
John O.
Bennett III
(left) is
challenged
by Sheriff
Shaun
Golden for
GOP
leadership.
FILE PHOTOS
The incumbent, a longtime state
legislator, just a year ago ran
Goldens election campaign for
Monmouth County sheriff.
See GOP, Page A8
23RD ANNUAL GAY PRIDE PARADE
CELEBRATING A MILESTONE
Participants and spectators in Asbury Park
joyously march, sing and dance in the first
parade since New Jersey legalized gay marriage.
TODAY, A3
U.S. SOCCER TEAM TOPS TURKEY, 2-1, IN N.J. D1
OUTDOOR
UPGRADES
No need for campers to
rough it these days
@PLAY, C1