Chris Myers

Jack Kelly welcomes his presumptive rival from across the county line to address the crowd of Ocean County GOP delegates.

U.S. Congress candidate Jack KellyShortly after accepting the support of the Ocean County Republican Organization in his bid for U.S. Congress in the 3rd district, Freeholder Director Jack Kelly welcomed an unassuming man onto the platform to stand beside him in a display of GOP unity.

The man was Chris Myers, Kelly's primary election adversary from Burlington, who attended the event along with a small contingent of party operatives from across the county line.

"Despite any attempt of the press to make this a county versus county primary battle, I will do all in my power to make sure any primary challenge will be the one that seeks to elect the very best Republican countywide... because that is our common goal," said Kelly, a 56-year old former mayor of Eagleswood for 11 years and 15-year veteran of the freeholder board.

He yielded the microphone to Myers, 43, Medford Township's deputy mayor, a vice president at Lockheed Martin, and decorated combat veteran of the Gulf War, who kept the line of fire trained on next November's Democratic opponent, state Sen. John Adler of Cherry Hill.

Republican Assembly Brian Rumpf withdrew his name today for consideration to run for outgoing U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton’s seat.

In a letter to Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore, Rumpf said that he would prefer to remain a member of the state legislature.

"This year’s recent election shed even greater light on the myriad of serious issues currently confronting our state that residents want addressed. Out of respect for the voters who chose me to continue representing them in the State Assembly, I am committed to serving in the State Legislature as an active advocate for my constituents,” wrote Rumpf.

Rumpf, however, left the door open to a possible congressional run “at some point in the future.”

Chris Myers has emerged as a leading candidate for Jim Saxton's seatIt looks like a primary in the third Congressional district may not be such a sure thing after all.

Not if Lockheed Martin Vice President Chris Myers, who lives in Burlington County, impresses members of the Ocean County Republican Party enough to win their endorsement.

Myers, who lives in Burlington County and is the presumptive favorite to get that county party’s nod for a congressional bid, has sent his resume to Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore and will participate in a candidate screening process this weekend.

The Ocean County Republican Committee will convene on Monday to vote on the candidate it will endorse to replace U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton.