With Allen out, Myers emerges in Burlington as possible uniter

As veteran state legislator Diane Allen’s congressional star descended over the 3rd district, an opposing faction in her party inch by inch unveiled what they believe is the tantalizing candidacy of newcomer Christopher Myers, a decorated Gulf War veteran and vice president at Lockheed Martin.

"A real man's man," said an early supporter.

The popular Allen just endured a six-month long re-election campaign in which she fairly beat up the opposition by a 12% margin, but also expended energy and capital in a losing effort to pull in a pair of Assembly running mates.

Sources close to the Republican state Senator say she now cannot afford to wage a primary campaign for national office against forces riled and financed by her political enemy, former Burlington County GOP Chairman Glenn Paulsen. If she were to run for Congress and get by Paulsen’s machinery, Allen would of course still face a general election, most likely against the formidable state Sen. John Adler, who today received the endorsement of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

That’s a $2 to $3 million endeavor, and maybe then some.

Allen’s statement Thursday that she wouldn’t run prompted political newcomer Myers of Medford Township to take a phone call just long enough to make his own statement.

"I am going to run," he told PolitickerNJ.com. "I am forming a campaign team. Stay tuned."

Locked in a longtime war with Allen that stems in part from his reluctance to back her in her 2002 campaign for the U.S. Senate, Paulsen earlier this week intimated that the party rank and file would mobilize behind an exciting and unknown candidate with his own money, and his own ability to raise money - unlike Allen, he noted bitterly.

"I never played beyond the county level to get ginned up for raising $100,000 or $200,000," admitted Paulsen of his own prior reluctance to immerse himself in congressional politics. "But I think we have somebody who just emerged."

That person turned out to be the pro-life Myers of Lockheed Martin's Maritime Systems and Sensors business in Evesham Township, which employees around 6,000 people in the area. Myers is close to the man whose seat he covets - retiring U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton.

Burlington County Republican Chairwoman Dawn Lacy said she was disappointed Allen is not running.

"She is one of the best candidates we had," said Lacy, who is warring with Paulsen and Bill Layton - the boss' choice to replace her prior to the end of her term in June. 

Lacy applauded Allen for making a choice that would not compromise her. "She was unwilling to cut a deal in order to run for Congress, and she is committed to doing what is right," the chair said.

Notwithstanding her differences with Paulsen, Lacy said she has talked to Myers and believes he has the potential to unite the Burlington County Republicans.

"He came to the process on his own," said Lacy. "He is his own man and is very successful at Lockheed. I've known Chris Myers for several years and he is a person of great integrity who is interested in the position for the right reasons."

Lacy reached out to the Republican chairs in the adjoining counties that along with Burlington contribute to the 3rd Congresional District. Ocean County makes up the other large portion of the 3rd, and the Republicans there have scheduled a Dec. 10th meeting to select their own congressional candidate.