Casualty List 2009

PolitickerNJ.com has prepared a Casualty List for the New Jersey Legislature for each year since 2001.

Fourteen-term Republican John Rooney, the senior member of the State Assembly, becomes the fifth legislator not seeking re-election in 2009.  Three Assemblymen are seeking another office: Richard Merkt (R-Mendham) is running for Governor; Michael Doherty (R-Washington) is seeking State Senate seat; and L. Harvey Smith (D-Jersey City) is a candidate for Mayor. Assemblywoman Sandra Love (D-Gloucester Township) is retiring. And Eric Munoz (R-Summit) passed away earlier this month at the age of 61.

Two other legislators have resigned: State Senators John Adler (D-Cherry Hill) and Leonard Lance (R-Clinton) were elected to Congress.  A third, Assemblyman Douglas Fisher (D-Bridgeton), was appointed New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture and is expected to resign his seat this week.

State Sen. Dana Redd (D-Camden) is running for Mayor.  If she wins, she would be forced to resign in January, with two years remaining on her term.