Posted on 09/10/2008 1:51:25 PM PDT by Coleus
A six-term Republican assemblyman from Morris County today said it was time for a career change. Richard A. Merkt, 59, said he won't seek another term in the lower house and will instead focus on winning the gubernatorial election in 2009.
“My vision is to give [government] back much more to the people than it has been in years,” said Merkt, announcing at a Morristown news conference that he'd formed an exploratory committee. The top issues Merkt said he would confront if he decides to run for governor would be New Jersey’s economy, funding for public schools and rising property taxes.
Merkt is the first member of either party to announce a run to replace Governor Corzine, the multimillionaire Democrat and former U.S. senator elected in 2005. Corzine is expected to seek reelection. In recent months, Republicans have speculated that Christopher Christie, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey, would be a strong candidate, in part because of his record of successfully prosecuting corrupt public officials. Christie has said he has not decided whether to seek the office.
Merkt said he spoke to Christie before Thursday’s announcement. As a federal official, however, Christie is barred from actively participating in partisan politics. The two have been friends for years, and Christie said nothing more to Merkt other than to thank him for the phone call, Merkt said. Merkt, a corporate lawyer, said he is interested in running because the state is deteriorating.
“My goal is to reestablish a state government that respects the people and works to regain their trust through unprecedented openness and accountability," he said in a statement prior to the news conference. "Running for governor will allow me to add more to the public debate on critical issues than is possible from a seat in the Assembly."
.
bump & a ping
It's getting so that I no longer see any point in going to the polls for state elections.
You can't be the former and the latter at the same time. Paging Steve Lonegan, please pick up the white courtesy phone.
(Googles him)
“Lonegan predicted Republicans will continue to remain the minority in New Jersey as long as they continue to avoid controversy and try to accommodate liberals, public employee labor unions, the media and other special interest groups.”
GASP!!!! Care to move west Steve.
I was really psyched when I first heard of Bret Schundler in 01. Hope this guy has better luck. It’d be nice to at least empty moneybag’s bank accounts.
Know what the single greatest sin you can commit as a Conservative Republican in New Jersey ? Being successful in your own bailiwick. Try to move beyond it and the liberal RINOs in charge of the state party will destroy you.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.