Gopal Pays $900K Cash for Tinton Falls building

Vin Gopal, the Monmouth County Democrat Chairman until noon on Tuesday and a candidate for the Democrat nomination for State Senate in the 11th Legislative District, portrayed himself as a struggling small business owner who goes months at a time without a paycheck so that he can pay his employees, in the announcement that he was stepping down as Chairman to run for Senate.

“I know what it’s like having to make payroll every month, going months without taking a paycheck in order to make sure my employees are paid,” Gopal said to The Asbury Park Press.  At Observer-PolitickerNJ, Gopal said, “I know what Monmouth County residents are going through.”

But MoreMonmouthMusings has learned that Gopal paid $900,000 in cash for a commercial property in Tinton Falls last week.  He showed up for the closing with a bank check for $10,000 more than the listing price after winning a bidding war on 97 Apple Street, a single story office building.

How many Monmouth County residents are going through that?

Gopal bought the property through Tic Tac Toe Development, LLC, a company he formed on November 9, 2016 (the day after Election Day). Gopal is the only owner/member of Tic Tac Toe Development, according to documents filed the the New Jersey Department of Treasury.

In addition to portraying himself as a a struggling man of the people, Gopal pledged to fight against insiders if he becomes a Senator representing parts of Southern and Western Monmouth County.  But while seeking the blessings of the ultimate Trenton insiders –South Jersey Democrat Boss George Norcross, Senate President Steve Sweeney and presumptive Democrat gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy–for his Senate run, according to Observer-PolitickerNJ), Gopal takes very good care of his Monmouth Democrat insiders.

Eric Brophy, Esq of Wall Township is Tic Tac Toe Development’s attorney, according to the formation document on file with the State.  Brophy represented the company at the real estate closing on the Tinton Falls office building.  He is also a former Democrat candidate for Monmouth County Sheriff, a Vice Chairman of the Monmouth County Democrats, a Democrat State Committeeman, and the Muncipal Chairman of the Wall Township Democrats.

According to his law practice website, Brophy is Municipal Prosecutor for the Borough of Keyport; Hearing Officer for Brick Township; Alternate Prosecutor in Brick, NJ; Alternate Prosecutor in Neptune, NJ, Lake Como, NJ and Marlboro, NJ; Conflict Counsel for Borough of Atlantic Highlands; Special Counsel in Keyport; Special Litigation Counsel in Brick, NJ; and Special Counsel for EMS in Neptune, NJ.

Previously, Brophy served as the Municipal Prosecutor in Wall Township, New Jersey; Monmouth County Special Counsel; Public Defender in Belmar, NJ; Alternate Public Defender in Neptune, NJ; and Municipal Prosecutor in South Toms River, NJ.

In addition to Tic Tac Toe Development, LLC, Gopal is a principal in Direct Development, LLC, a communications, public relations and marketing firm, and All American Printing and Promotions, LLC.  He is the founder and president of the Vin Gopal Civic Association, a non-profit organization previously known as Jersey Promise.