Rick Merkt

Union County Republicans will hold the state's first convention of the 2009 gubernatorial campaign on Saturday, and former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie is the strong favorite to win that vote.   Earlier this month, Christie released a list of 69 endorsements from Union County Republicans, including County Chairman Philip Morin, seventeen of 21 GOP municipal chairs, all eight Republican mayors, and the county's three Republican legislators.

Former Bogota Mayor Steven Lonegan is doing some campaigning in Union, but is not focused on winning the organization line.  The real race - for whatever it's worth -- might be for third place between Assemblyman Richard Merkt (R-Mendham) and Franklin Township Mayor Brian Levine.   Merkt and Levine live in counties that border Union.

500!
MERKT’S ‘RUNNING’ CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR HITS NEW MILESTONE

ONLY 66 MUNICIPALITIES LEFT TO FULFILL GOAL

Former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie’s gubernatorial campaign announced today that they’ve raised over half a million dollars in three weeks – more than enough to qualify for matching funds from the state.

If the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) verifies the donations, Christie will be the second Republican to meet the $340,000 matching funds threshold.  Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan, who kicked off his campaign early, secured matching funds last month and has already begun a $500,000 ad blitz.

When a candidate meets the matching funds requirement, he or she will receive two dollars for every one they raise for up to $3.1 million in the primary, minus a $109,000 deductible.  Christie has already said he intends to seek matching funds. 

“The support with which donors have been backing Chris has been unmatched,” said Campaign Finance Chairman Jon F. Hanson in a statement.  “It’s clear that Chris’s vision for New Jersey is resonating with the people of our state.”

Lafayette College Special Collections & College Archives Photo

Robert Meyner was elected Governor in 1953, two years after he lost his State Senate seat to Wayne Dumont.

Of the seven Democrats and Republicans running for Governor, only two have never lost an election: Democrat Jon Corzine won a race for U.S. Senate in 2000 and was elected Governor in 2005; and Republican Brian Levine was elected to the Franklin Township Council in 1997 and 2001, and Mayor in 2003 and 2007.

On the Republican side, Christopher Christie was elected to the Morris County Board of Freeholders in 1994, and lost GOP primaries for State Assembly in 1995 and for Freeholder in 1997.  Steven Lonegan was elected Mayor of Bogota in 1995, 1999 and 2003, but lost races for State Senator (in 1997 to incumbent Byron Baer) Congress (in 1998 to incumbent Steve Rothman), Bergen County Executive (2002 convention) and Governor (2005 primary).  Rick Merkt lost a 1995 primary for State Assembly (he was Christie's running mate) before winning the first of six terms in 1997.  Jim Murray lost a 2006 primary for Morris County Freeholder and then won in 2007.

Corzine's Democratic primary opponent, Carl Bergmanson, was elected three times to the Glen Ridge Council before losing a 1999 bid for Mayor.  He was elected Mayor four years later.

Of New Jersey's ten elected Governors under the current State Constitution, six had lost previous elections: James E. McGreevey ran unsuccessfully for Governor in 1997; Christine Todd Whitman lost a 1990 bid for U.S. Senate; Jim Florio lost a race for Congress in 1972, a gubernatorial primary in 1977, and a race for Governor in 1981; Thomas Kean, Sr. lost Republican primaries for Congress (1974) and Governor (1977); Richard Hughes lost a race for Congress in 1938; and Robert Meyner was defeated in a re-election bid for State Senator two years before he was elected Governor in 1953. 

Last week, former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie officially announced he will seek the GOP gubernatorial nomination.  The entrance of Christie in the race, who is leading Governor Jon Corzine in the latest Quinnipiac pool, has excited Republican leaders and ant-Corzine voters yearning for a change in the governor's office. 

Chris Christie is this year's Establishment candidate, which means it is his race to lose.  GOP county chairs are lining up behind Christie, guaranteeing him the coveted "line" in virtually all the counties.  In addition, the GOP legislative leadership and scores of local officials are rallying behind Christie.  The question that remains to be answered: Is Christie's nomination all but assured? 

Morris County Freeholder James Murray is thinking about running for Governor.

If 70-year-old Freeholder James Murray enters the race for Governor, it would bring the number of Morris County Republicans to three.  Murray, who raised just $5,000 on his upset primary win over incumbent John Inglesino in 2007, is hardly a first-tier statewide candidate.  But he could siphon off Morris County votes from former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie - as could another Morris candidate, Assemblyman Richard Merkt (R-Mendham).

Inglesino is part of Christie's political inner circle and has been attending Christie for Governor campaign meetings for more than a year.  He has played a leading role in the reform of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, where his law firm (he is former federal Judge and U.S. Attorney Herbert Stern's law partner) had been awarded a lucrative federal monitor job by Christie.  

MERKT WELCOMES CHRISTIE TO RACE FOR GOVERNOR
 RENEWS CALL FOR GOP HOPEFULS TO DEBATE

The four Republican gubernatorial candidates will speak at a forum - not a debate -- sponsored by the Somerset County Federation of Republican Women on Saturday in Branchburg.  News 12's Laura Jones will moderate the event, which organizers say will be attended by former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie, Franklin Mayor Brian Levine, former Bogota Mayor Steven Lonegan, and Assemblyman Rick Merkt (R-Mendham).

MERKT:‘WALK TO WASHINGTON’ A ‘DISGRACE’

ANNUAL TRAIN RIDE A ‘POSTERCHILD’ FOR INFLUENCE-PEDDLING BY POLITICAL INSIDERS

MERKT: NEW JERSEY NEEDS A NEW HIGH COURT
ATTRIBUTES POLICY BLUNDERS TO ACTIVIST JUDGES
VOWS TO RESHAPE SUPREME COURT AS GOVERNOR