In Mercer, Republicans settle on Calabro for District 14

HAMILTON -- Mercer County Republicans endorsed restaurant owner Rob Calabro as their candidate in the 14th Legislative District at their convention tonight.

Calabro, a Hamilton resident who ran unsuccessfully for freeholder in 2007, did not attend tonight’s event, opting instead to stay home with his pregnant wife and two young children.  He was nominated by Hamilton Republican Municipal Chairman Frank Ragazzo and introduced by state Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Mercer).  He fills the spot in which Republicans hoped to have Hamilton Council President Kelly Yaede, who flirted with a run but decided against it, leaving the local GOP scrambling to find a suitable replacement.  

Calabro’s name was the only one entered for the party’s endorsement to run against incumbents Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer) and Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex).

Baroni said that Calabro, who owns Porfirio’s Market and Café, will not merely be a placeholder until the party can find someone higher profile.  

“What you need in a challenger in this district is someone who will work very hard and knock on doors, and he’s going to do that,” said Baroni.  “He’s got a small business background, he’s a Hamilton hometown kid who went to school here, built a business here, has invested in our community and is very well known here.”

Hamilton Councilman Tom Goodwin, who ran for assembly in 2007 and barely lost to Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer), said that the political climate this year is more favorable for Republicans.  He said that Calabro would make a good candidate.

“Rob gets along very well with people,” he said.  “He’s a regular guy who can communicate well with regular people.”

He was, of course, far from the Republicans’ first choice.  There has been some grumbling, much of it pointed at Wesley, over the party’s difficulty finding a candidate in what was expected to be one of the most competitive districts in the state.

Goodwin said that he does not blame Wesley and credited him with bringing in a good turnout to the convention.  

Wesley, for his part, said that the lack of recruitment stems from the party’s counting on Yaede to run.  

“I think the problem is that we were very much counting on Kelly Yaede running.  For her own reasons, she decided not to run.” said Wesley.  

When asked whether he was angry with Yaede over the timing, Wesley said “No. Well, let’s put it this way.  I would have preferred we know sooner, but there are always two sides to the story and we deal with this all of the time.”  

Middlesex County Republicans will meet on Saturday to choose the other half of the 14th Legislative District ticket. Chairman Joe Leo said that he has three interested candidates.  Party sources say the most viable is Lynda Woods Cleary, who has run for several positions before.  It is unclear whether she will run for assembly or freeholder, however.