TOMS RIVER – The Ocean County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to appoint former Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove to the Ocean County College Board of Trustees.
A retired educator with over 30 years of experience teaching American history and civics at Southern Regional High School, Gove replaces Carl V. Thulin, Jr. as a Trustee. She will be the second retired educator to join the current college board.
Gove earned an undergraduate degree in social science from Cabrini College and a master’s in social studies from Monmouth University. During her fourteen-year tenure representing the 9th Legislative District in the State Assembly, Gove was a member of the Higher Education, Military and Veterans’ Affairs, and Aging and Senior Services committees.
The other two candidates interested in joining the college’s board of trustees were former Toms River Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill, a retired dentist, and Lynn Canfield, a Field Representative for Bricklayers and Allied Craftworker Local 5.
Commissioner Frank Sadeghi raised concerns about the selection process. While he voiced no opposition to Gove’s qualifications, Sadeghi questioned why only three candidates applied for the position in a county with a population exceeding 667,000. He emphasized the critical role the Board plays in shaping the future of the college and the community, advocating for a more open and competitive selection process in the future.
Commissioner Jack Kelly prefaced his vote by expressing his hope that the next time there is an opening on the College Board of Trustees, that Canfield will be considered for appointment.
“I know Lynn very well and think Lynn is the perfect fit to apply for a position on the vocational school board,” said Gary Quinn, Deputy Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners. “Lynn brings a different variable to the vocational school board if he’s put on the board at some point in the future.”
“The unions work so well hand in hand with the school itself,” Quinn continued. “Putting kids into the programs, bringing them in as apprentices. I think Lynn’s background would be more relevant and really beneficial to the residents of Ocean County in a position on that board.”
While acknowledging the potential for a wider applicant pool, Quinn praised Gove’s qualifications, citing her extensive experience in education and legislative involvement in the state’s Department of Education.
Neither Jennifer Bacchione (R) nor Joseph Lamb (D), both candidates for Commissioner on the primary ballot attending the meeting, commented on the appointment.
Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore spoke during the public comments section of the meeting and said that he had no objection to Gove’s appointment. However, he questioned what he saw as Quinn’s reluctance to appoint a blue-collar tradesperson to become a member of the college board of trustees.
“To say that DiAnne Gove brings something more than someone that’s blue collar, I disagree,” said Gilmore. “I think you need a variety of perspectives, and I think it’s important for the people that built the buildings we operate out of have representation on that board.”
Quinn reiterated his position, acknowledging Canfield as a strong candidate, but emphasized his preference for an educator at this particular juncture. “An educator would certainly be somebody that I would pick at this point at this moment in time,” he stated.
Ocean County College’s current Board of Trustees includes Jerry Dasti, Chair, Linda L. Novak, Vice Chair, Frank J. Dupignac, Jr. Treasurer, Robert A. Fall, Member, Stephan R. Leone, Secretary, Joanne Pehlivanian, Member, Joseph E. Teichman, Member, Steven A. Zabarsky, Member, Casey Conner, Student/Alumni Member.
Pehlivanian is a real estate broker/salesperson, Novak, a retired educator, Fall, a retired judge and May, a 2023 Ocean County College graduate. The remainder of the trustees are attorneys.
