Merkt sums up his candidacy; may write a book about NJ GOP

Assemblyman Richard Merkt (R-Mendham), who came in a distant third in last night’s Republican gubernatorial primary, said that his candidacy was a fulfilling experience.

“Running for Governor was an outstanding experience and one on which I will always look back with pride,” he wrote in a letter today.  

Merkt got 3% of the vote against former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie’s 55% and former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan’s 42% -- a total of about 9,000 votes.  He is not running for reelection to the Assembly, where his term ends in January.  

Merkt said he congratulated the “winner,” although he did not mention Christie – a fellow Mendham resident who ran for state Assembly with in 1995 -- by name.   Christie, for his part, gave plaudits to Lonegan during his victory speech, but did not mention Merkt.  The two are known to have a frosty relationship.  

Still, Merkt called for Republican unity and in an email exchange with PolitickerNJ.com said he would offer assistance if requested. 

“Lincoln once observed that ‘a house divided against itself cannot stand.’  Regardless of whom we supported in the recent primary election, I call upon all of my fellow Republicans to lay aside our differences and work for a better New Jersey by replacing the current administration in Trenton,” he wrote.  “We must remind our fellow citizens that democracy is not a spectator sport and that all of us, joining together, have both the power and solemn duty to restore our state’s greatness.”

Merkt might use Lincoln's famous words -- "A House Divided" --  as a tentative title for a book he's considering writing on the Republican Party in New Jersey, with particular attention to this year's gubernatorial race.

Merkt said he looks forward to spending time with his wife, daughters an granddaughter.