Woodbridge, New Jersey's sixth largest municipality, was politically competitive not much more than a decade ago, but is now solidly Democratic. Republican strategists say that the very blue collar township of nearly 100,000 people exactly the kind of place Christopher Christie or Steven Lonegan would need to do well if they are to beat Jon Corzine in November. It won't be easy for Republicans to win Woodbridge, but some insiders believe a GOP candidate could do better than they did in 2005, when Corzine beat Republican Douglas Forrester by 4,000 votes.
Sources say that Woodbridge Councilman Robert Luban has been offered the Republican line in his bid for re-election to a seventh term this year. He was initially elected as a Republican when he first won in 1985, but switched parties after Democrat James E. McGreevey was elected Mayor. Luban announced last week that he was no interested in running on the Democratic organization line, and said he was mulling opportunities to run as a Democrat, a Republican or as an Independent.
Fifth Ward Democrats have already endorsed businesswoman Maureen McArthur to run for Luban's Council seat. Woodbridge's fifth ward is one of the most Republican-leaning areas of the township.
