June 3, 2009 - 11:23am
Inside Edge

Doherty would enter Senate in November, forcing another special election convention to fill his Assembly seat

Assuming Michael Doherty (R-Oxford) wins the November special election for State Senate in District 23, he would be sworn in to replace Marcia Karrow (R-Raritan) immediately upon the certification of his election.  It will be Doherty, not Karrow, who votes during the lame duck session of the New Jersey Senate.

Doherty's move to the upper house will leave his State Assembly seat vacant.  That will require Republican County Committee in the 23rd district to hold a special election convention - their third this year - to fill the remaining two months of Doherty's unexpired Assembly term.  It's likely that the incoming Assemblyman, either Erik Peterson or Edward Smith (depending on the recount) will enter the Legislature in time for the lame duck session. 

Wally Edge can be reached via email at politicsnj@aol.com.