Jun Choi

Edison Mayor Jun H. Choi, the Mayor of New Jersey's fifth largest town and a leader in the state's Korean American community, has endorsed Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for President.  

"I’ve been leaning Obama for quite some time now," said Choi. "I wanted to see if there was real momentum in the campaign, and there is."

This is Obama’s second New Jersey endorsement this week: Rep. Steven Rothman announced two days ago that he would support the Senator from Illinois.

Edison Mayor Jun Choi lost a battle yesterday in a war that is still not over.  One week after his slate of Council candidates ousted incumbents in the Democratic primary -- and two years after Choi, running against the Middlesex County Democratic Organization unseated incumbent Mayor George Spadoro -- Choi lost his bid for Democratic Municipal Chairman.  He won just 36% of the vote in his bid to unseat veteran Chairman (and former State Senator, Assemblyman and Mayor) Thomas Paterniti. 

Menendez endorses Clinton, Assembly passes watered down dual office holding ban, Feds subpoena Coniglio documents, Assembly votes to use sales tax money for property tax relief, Corzine wants Doria for education commissioner, Jun Choi fails to win control of Edison Democratic Party, Clinton and Giuliani top NJ poll.

Assemblyman Peter Barnes' appointment as Chairman of the state Parole Board is part of a deal with Governor Jon Corzine to help get Barnes' son, Peter Barnes III, off the Edison Township Council. Barnes III will fill his father's State Assembly seat, allowing Mayor Jun Choi, a Corzine ally and Barnes rival, to fill the vacant Council seat with a Democrat from his own camp.

No parties have been scheduled tonight in Middlesex County, but if there were, a possible guest list could include Richard Codey, Frank Pallone, Joseph Doria, Robert Menendez, Jon Corzine, James E. McGreevey, Raymond Lesniak, James Florio, Ellen Karcher, Joseph Vitale, Jun Choi, Harry Poyzcki, Victor Scudiery and the New Jersey Education Association.