Somerset County legislators endorse Lance
By Matt Friedman, PolitickerNJ.com ReporterThere are five Somerset County residents running for congress in the seventh district, but the county’s three native legislators aren’t endorsing any of them.
On Monday, state Sen. Christopher “Kip” Bateman, Assemblyman Peter Biondi and Assemblywoman Denise Coyle will endorse State Sen. Leonard Lance, a Hunterdon County resident, for congress.
A press release from Lance announced that he would a press conference with the 16th district legislators on Monday at the Somerset County Courthouse, but did not specify why. Reached for comment, Bateman said that they were endorsing Lance.
“We’re going to throw our support behind Leonard because we think he has the best chance of winning in November,” said Bateman. “We have a number of good candidates, but this is going to be a high profile race – a lot of money spent on both sides.”
Running for the seat from Somerset County are Kate Whitman, Victor Sordillo, Chris Venis, Michael Hsing and Tom Roughneen.
“I explained to Kate (Whitman) that I think she’s a good candidate, but I just think that with Leonard’s experience in a tough race, and Linda Stender came close two years ago, I think we need a veteran like Leonard Lance,” said Bateman.
Whitman could not be reached for comment, but issued a press release yesterday listing Somerset County endorsements that included County Clerk Brett Radi and Freeholder Rick Fontana.
Bateman said that Somerset County Republican Chairman Dale Florio remains neutral. The county will have a convention late next month or early in April to vote on who it will formally endorse.
Venis said that the endorsements were not unexpected, and that they won’t matter much to the county committee.
“When you’re in such an intimate setting like the county convention process, it doesn’t carry a lot of weight because county committee members are more independent,” he said. “There is a streak of independence in Somerset County.”
Venis said he has no hard feelings.
“That’s part of the process," he said. “We’re all big boys and big girls.”
Contributors
Wally Edge
Michael Doherty. a West Point graduate and one of the state's most conservative legislators, will take his seat in the State Senate today. A ... >
Bob Torricelli
Everybody needs to start a new job with a list of priorities and Chris Christie is no exception. There might be a thousand things that need to get ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
Political discourse in America contains much in the way of intellect or intellectual honesty. One considers the Federalist Papers with wistful awe: ... >
Jeff Michaels
As pundits and party leaders look to next year’s Congressional elections in NJ, it appears that freshman Democrat John Adler is the most vulnerable ... >
Richard LaRossa
When will NJ Republicans start acting like Republicans rather than Democrats. Time to stand up for your principles, assuming they have any left. >
Alan Steinberg
As in any transition, speculation is rampant as to whom Governor-elect Chris Christie will appoint as Chief of Staff, State Treasurer, and Attorney ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
Now that the dust has finally settled after the grueling campaign for governor, there are a number of lessons that we can draw from this ... >
Carla Katz
When he was growing up, Chris Christie's folks must have taught him that when he went to a new playground, he should pick a fight with the ... >
Joey Novick
Back in 1974, when NYC was facing a mounting financial crisis, then-Mayor Abe Beame went to then-President Ford and asked for financial help from ... >
Murray Sabrin
New Jersey voters repudiated Governor Jon Corzine's policies of the past four years on November 3rd. Republican Chris Christie and Independent ... >
Poll
Hot Topics
Most Active Stories
- Milgram charges GOP consultant over robocall impersonating Rumana staffer
- Dem leadership teams come together after emerging from caucus meetings
- Gallery packed with Garden State Equality activists as Doherty assumes oath of office
- Christie says Cryan should get out of chairman mode
- Runyan, now a Charger, announces NJ-3 congressional bid
- Wisniewski to make formal play for state party chair when Cryan makes departure official
- Pou won't rule out bid for Democratic State Party chair
- Goldstein leads 250 marriage equality activists for march on the Statehouse
- Stack: HCDO leaders need to put organization in order before trying to take out Cunningham
- Qpac poll: voters support public worker wage freezes, layoffs
- Runyan, now a Charger, announces NJ-3 congressional bid
- Christie says Cryan should get out of chairman mode
- Gallery packed with Garden State Equality activists as Doherty assumes oath of office
- Milgram charges GOP consultant over robocall impersonating Rumana staffer
- Caruso says he had nothing to do with robocall
- Pou won't rule out bid for Democratic State Party chair
- Lesniak: bring gay marraige up for a vote
- Dem leadership teams come together after emerging from caucus meetings
- Qpac poll: voters support public worker wage freezes, layoffs
- Spicuzzo nomination passes committee
- Quinnipiac: Christie leads 50%-40%
- Quinnipiac poll has Christie ahead by 4 points as Corzine gets closer
- Christie, in West New York, takes questions
- Gore makes his case for Corzine
- Potential LG rivals Allen and Weinberg ally for county committee reform legislation
- Final debate schedule
- Torricelli on making perfection the enemy of good
- Autistic man seeks Assembly seat in 37th
- Jeb Bush attends Christie fundraiser
- Correction: Weiner departure was not his own idea
Recent Posts From Inside Edge
Quote of the Day
“A lot of blood on the floor.” - Senate President Dick Codey (D-Roseland), emerging from the caucus room after losing his leadership position to Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford)
Recent Press Releases
- Nov 25 2009
Syndicate
