Candidates seeking to run in the Democratic and Republican primaries for Governor, State Assembly, and county and local office must file nominating petitions by 4PM today. There are also special elections for State Senate in districts 6 and 23. Independent candidates have until 4PM on June 2 to file for the general election.
Filing to run against Gov. Jon Corzine in the Democratic primary are Roger Bacon and Jeff Boss. Bacon, a Phillipsburg resident who runs a customized ceramic mug business, won 7% in the Democratic congressional primary in the fifth district last year. A former Republican, he was the Libertarian candidate for Congress against Marge Roukema fourteen years ago. Boss ran for President and U.S. Senate in 2008 and said he witnessed the U.S. government planning the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Corzine and another announced Democratic primary candidate, former Glen Ridge Mayor Carl Bergmanson, had not filed their petitions as of Friday.
On the Republican side, former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan and David Brown, an inventor from South Brunswick, have filed petitions. Former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie, Assemblyman Rick Merkt (R-Mendham) and Franklin Mayor Brian Levine are also expected to file. Newark businessman Dennis Knight had announced his candidacy late last year, but has not made any campaign appearances.
In District 23, State Sen. Marcia Karrow (R-Raritan) will face Assemblyman Michael Doherty (R-Oxford) in the GOP State Senate primary. Karrow beat Doherty earlier this year in a special election convention to replace Leonard Lance, who was elected to Congress.
