Lillian Beneforti Burry, who served as a Monmouth County Commissioner from 2006 to 2024 and enjoyed a political career that began as a Matawan councilman in 1970, has passed away. She was 89.
Burry retired at the end of 2023 after eighteen years in county government.
State Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch) called Burry “a trailblazer who dedicated her life towards public service and protecting open space” and called on Monmouth County to “protect her legacy by creating a permanent memorial in her name.”
“She was always deeply committed to her hometown of Colts Neck,” said Gopal. “She was instrumental in the redevelopment of Fort Monmouth and passionate about all aspects of Monmouth County.”
She was first elected to the Matawan Borough Council in 1970, at the age of 34, after serving two years on the Zoning Board. She later moved to Colts Neck, where she eventually became a township committeewoman and mayor.
But in the 1973 Democratic Watergate landslide, Burry lost her bid for re-election by roughly 400 votes to Ralph Dolan, the Democratic municipal chairman, and his running mate, Walter Blaine.
The second woman to win a local office in Matawan – the first was Genevieve Donnell in the 1950s — Burry, and Planning Board Chairman Salvatore Millazzo defeated Democrats John Colins and John Byrd. Burry was the top vote-getter and won by about 250 votes. Both seats had been held by retiring Republicans.
Burry became the chair of the Monmouth County Library Commission.
In 1997, she resumed her political career as a candidate for the Colts Neck Township Committee. She won a contested Republican primary in a municipality split by the approval of an assisted living facility; Burry supported it and had the backing of the county line, despite Monmouth County GOP Chairman Bill Dowd representing the anti-assisted living group. Burry and her running mate, Mike Southcott, won easily.
She became mayor in 1999. She was easily reelected in 2000 and 2003.
Burry was elected freeholder in 2005 when a Green Party candidate, Brian Unger, became a spoiler after receiving over 18,000 votes. Burry defeated Democrat Barbara McMorrow by 1,792 votes.
Republicans backed Burry to run with incumbent William Barham. She defeated Holmdel Councilwoman Serena DiMaso and Howell Councilwoman Cynthia Shoemaker at the GOP convention. (Spring Lake Councilman Gary Rich entered the race but then dropped out before voting.)
She replaced Harry Larrison.
In 2008, Burry was narrowly re-elected after finishing 1,022 votes ahead of Democrat Amy Mallet; her running mate, John Curley, ran third, 346 votes behind Mallet.
Burry was re-elected in 2008 – Rich unseated Mallet – and again in 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2020.
Her retirement came after feuding with Monmouth GOP Chairman Shaun Golden and County Commissioner Director Tom Arnone. She was expected to face Shrewsbury Mayor Eik Anderson in the 2023 Republican primary.
