Marty Marks

The Somerset County wing of a conservative PAC has endorsed Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks for Congress in the seventh district.

The Republicans for Conservative Leadership (RFCL) said that they endorsed Marks because he’s pro-life, pro-second amendment, and because of his positions on national security and limited government.

“When you weed through the Republican field full of Liberals and Political Scions the only real conservative candidate who can win

Marks Challenges  Other GOP Candidates to Series of Debates

Senate Minority Leader Ton Kean, Jr. (R-Union), and Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon).

State Sen. Leonard Lance won the Somerset County Republican convention tonight, an important victory in his quest for the Republican nomination to succeed Rep. Mike Ferguson in the seventh congressional district.

Lance beat Whitman nearly 2-1, winning 136 votes to her 74 in the second round of balloting.

Hundreds of Somerset Republican County Committee members packed the Elks Lodge in Bridgewater tonight to participate in the event, where they also voted on Senate and freeholder candidates. But the seventh district congressional race was the real contest of the night.

“There were six candidates from Somerset County and I was able to prevail,” said Lance. “I think it shows that the Republican Party in Somerset County recognizes that I will be the agent of change in Washington.”

Congressional candidate Kate Whitman won the organization line in Middlesex CountyKate Whitman won the endorsement of the Middlesex County Republican Party at its convention in Woodbridge this morning.

After some confusion that required a re-vote, Whitman won the first round of balloting, earning the 50% plus one requirement with 48 out of 85 votes cast. Former Summit Councilwoman P. Kelly Hatfield was the runner up, with 17 votes. State Sen. Leonard Lance came in next with 14 votes, followed by Scotch Plains Mayor Marty Marks with five votes and Iraq war vet Tom Roughneen with one.

That gives Whitman the line in this county, which between the three towns of Edison, South Plainfield and Woodbridge makes up the smallest portion of the four-county district.

But despite the county’s size, supporters said that it would give Whitman crucial momentum going into the Somerset County convention next Thursday – the last of the four counties left to award its endorsement.

Mayor Martin Marks, Republican candidate for Congress in the Seventh District, announced that he signed the earmark reform pledge that goes above and beyond any current earmark disclosure rules to boost transparency and demand higher standards from members of Congress for future earmark requests.

The Union County Republicans will hold their convention to choose a House and Senate candidate tomorrow morning.

The meeting will take place at 8:30 a.m. at Westfield High School.

Among the many candidates competing for the House nod are two from Union County : former Summit Councilwoman P. Kelly Hatfield and Scotch Plains Mayor Marty Marks.

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Step in the right direction; but more needs to be done