BRIDGEWATER - Businessman and Democratic Party fundraiser Zenon Christodoulou is considering a 2010 challenge to U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-Clinton) in the 7th District, according to party sources.
 
"He would be a high quality candidate," said Peg Schaffer, chair of the Somerset County Democratic Organization. "He is a businesman and family man with a deep understanding of economics and trade and a personal committment to people and economic fairness."
 
"I think he would be a great candidate, to be honest with you," affirmed Manville Democrat Joe Lukac, a former borough party chair. "He's a very honest person with a lot of integrity. At this point, Leonard Lance doesn't have anything to say in his defence. He promised us $1 million in aid and delivered $150,000 to Manville this year. He's got a lot more to prove.
 
"The way I look at it, Zenon's a go-getter," Lukac added. "He's the type - like Angelo Corradino was when he was mayor of Manvillle - who if he can't get what he wants at the state level, he'll get on a train or plane and go to Washington D.C. to get it. Zenon's the type who wouild make a point of fighting."
 
Contacted by PolitickerNJ.com, the 45-year old Christodolou would say only that he wants to do "whatever he can to help the country."
 
Without commenting directly on a question regarding his interest in the 7th District Congressional seat, the self-described conservative Democrat said,  "I am fundamentally concerned with restoring America's greatness in the world.
 
"In my lifetime, America has been the leader of the free world, my family and I have personally felt that profoundly and I want to do whatever I can to help this country maintain its rightful place as a protector of freedom and opportunity."

From our first year, the Best & Worst Campaigns of 2000:

After Maryanne Connelly won 47% in her 1998 House race against Bob Franks, she immediately launched a 200 rematch.  But when Franks decided to give up his seat after four terms to run for the U.S. Senate, Democrats, sensing an opportunity for a pickup and not believing Connelly was the strongest candidate, instead backed then-Union County Administrator Mike Lapolla for the seat.