The Courier News has endorsed Republicans Bo Vastine and Marty Marks over incumbent Democrats Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) and Assemblyman Jerry Green (R-Plainfield) in the 22nd Legislative District race.

"Marks in particular offers a valuable perspective on how the state's policy mistakes translate into additional problems on the local level," the editorial noted of the former Scotch Plains mayor. "His service in the Scotch Plains government includes years of frustration over the effects of Civil Service regulations, arbitration rules and union excesses on local budgets. He would bring to Trenton the proper sense of urgency in correcting systemic flaws that drive up the costs of government in the state."

MARKS COMMITTED TO BRINGING COMMON SENSE CHANGE TO TRENTON  Trenton - Republican 22nd District Assembly candidate Martin Marks joined today with Republican Assembly members and candidates and promised to end the runaway tax increases, borrowing and spending, which have been heaped onto taxpayers during the last eight years the Democrats have controlled state government.               

Marks and Vastine Oppose Corzine Gas Tax Hike

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Former Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks campaigns today in North Plainfield.

NORTH PLAINFIELD - Marty Marks, former mayor of Scotch Plains and an Assembly candidate in the 22nd Legislative District, has seen polling in Union County that puts that much more spring in the stride of he and his running mate, businessman Bo Vastine, candidates who raised more than $25,000 at a well-attended fundraiser Sept. 12th at Marks' home.

The Republican running mates are challenging longtime incumbent Assemblyman Jerry Green (D-Plainfield) and Green's running mate, former two-time Congressional candidate Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood), in a 2-1 Democratic district where Green and Stender will have more money to fight their challengers and who in normal circumstances should be fine - but where an intensely contested gubernatorial race at the top-of-the-ticket heartens the GOP opposition.

"We're satisfied that statewide issues are penetrating in our district," said Marks, going door-to-door on a Monday afternoon, whose fundraising guests included U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-Clinton), state Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield), Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany), Assembly Minority Whip Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) and Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz (R-Summit).

Conservative Organizations continue to line-up behind Marks  Scotch Plains, NJ – Mayor Martin Marks, Republican candidate for Congress in the Seventh District, has won the endorsement of one of the nation’s largest political action committee – Republican National Coalition for Life.

Conservative, constitutional approach vs. liberal views

Ideologically P. Kelly Hatfield isn't much different from her two most high profile opponents in the 7th Congressional District's Republican primary.

Like state Sen. Leonard Lance and former first-daughter Kate Whitman, Kelly considers herself conservative, but with moderate stances on social issues like abortion (all three are pro-choice, with exceptions).

It can be hard to stick out in a field of seven candidates when she doesn't have a 17-year record as a highly visible member of the state legislature, like Lance, or a political lineage going back 100 years, like Whitman. Nor has Hatfield staked a place out well to the right of her opponents, as Scotch Plains Mayor Marty Marks.

Scotch Plains Mayor Marty Marks won the endorsement of New Jersey Right to Life for his 7th district congressional run.

Marks, a dentist who is running to the right of six other candidates in the hotly contested Republican primary, used the pro-life endorsement to bolster his conservative credentials. 

“This endorsement will provide a strong base of voters in both the primary and general election from which he can build for victory.  NRTL-PAC will utilize its various resources to help elect Martin Marks to Congress,” said the group’s director, Marie Tasy.