Leigh-Ann Bellew Faces Kyrillos in GOP Primary

Leigh-Ann Bellew, backed by the Bayshore Tea Party, will challenge incumbent state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-Middletown) in the Republican primary Tuesday in a bid to represent Monmouth County in the Senate.

Bellew, a Union Beach resident, teaches history at Calvary Christian School in Old Bridge. She began her political career in 2004 when she started working as a legislative aid for the League of American Family before running an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives for New Jersey's 6th Congressional District.

In 2010, she was the chairperson for Anna Little's Congressional campaign. The team challenged longtime Democrat U.S. Rep Frank Pallone, but did not win the election. 

The self-described fiscal and social conservative does not believe Kyrillos represents area Republicans.

"I was quite disappointed in the statements that [Kyrillos] made in his run for U.S. Senate, particularly his statement that we should tax the wealthy more," she said.

High taxes, she added, are the root of the problem rather than the solution.

"We're the highest taxed state in the nation and we rank 47th in business friendliness. We're one of the top five worst states to do business in," Bellew said. "There was a time in New Jersey's history when we had no sales tax and no income tax and we were the fastest growing state in the nation economically during that period of time."

Bellew's running mates on the Republicans for Conservative Leadership slate include Assembly candidates Stephen Boracchia and Edna Walsh, who are challenging incumbent Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-Middletown) and Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon (R-Little Silver).

New Jersey's 13th Legislative District includes Aberdeen, Atlantic Highlands, Fair Haven, Hazlet, Highlands, Holmdel, Keansburg, Keyport, Little Silver, Marlboro, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Rumson, Sea Bright and Union Beach.