Defense contractor Christopher Myers, a Medford resident who is the Vice President of Lockheed Martin, is considering a bid for the Republican nomination for Congress in the third district and could win the endorsement of retiring Rep. Jim Saxton, according to GOP sources. Myers runs Lockheed Martin's sea-based missile-defense programs.

Sources say that Saxton is giving strong consideration to endorsing Myers for the GOP nod, even as feuding Burlington County Republicans and a seemingly united Ocean County posture to pick a candidate for the open seat.  State Sen. Diane Allen has already begun seeking support, and Ocean County Republicans could pick their candidate as early as next month.

As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, Saxton brought millions of dollars in defense contracts to Lockheed Martin, the largest employer in South Jersey.  In his retirement announcement, he pledged to continue to deliver research funding to the company.