Long Hill Mayor George Vitureira this afternoon filed to run for the Assembly in the 21st Legislative District, soon after Long Hill School Board Member Bruce Meringolo filed,triggering a four-way, two-countyRepublican primary for two seats.
On the Union side of the county line, Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) and Nancy Munoz, widow of Assemblyman Eric Munoz (R-Summit) also filed to run.
In the same town, if not on the same page with Meringolo and with the support of his party's county chairman, Vitureira fired off a statement as soon as he filed this afternoon.
"We are in the middle of a terrible economic situation and the Governor is not meeting his fiscal responsibilities," said the attorney/real estate developer."Rather than raising taxes and cutting municipal aid, which has the effect of raising local property taxes, we should trim the size of our government and eliminate expensive programs taxpayers cannot afford."
A native of Uruguay who grew up here to live the American Dream, in his words, Vitureiraruns out of the Morris portion of the district, which claims four of the 21st's 16 towns.
Nine towns areconcentrated in Union County,home to incumbent Bramnick andNancy Munoz, who filed today to run as a replacement for her husband, Assemblyman Eric Munoz (R-Summit), who died last weekfollowing heart surgery.
Backed by Union County GOP Chairman Phil Morin, Munozstared downat least two potential challengers: former Summit Council Vice President Kelly Hatfield and GOP activist Peter Kane.
Bramnick also has Morin's support.
Morin hadhimself originally hoped to carry his county's banner as a replacement for the late Assemblyman Munoz, but shelved his own run and supported Munoz after the assemblyman's widow reached out to him.
Then Hatfield yielded to Munoz.
Essex County adds one town to the composition of the 21st District- Millburn. Like Morin, County Chairman Kevin O'Toole supports Munoz and Bramnick. An additional two municipalities are located in Somerset, where the county GOPalso intends tosupport Bramnick and Nancy Munoz, according toJanet Linnus, the organization's vice chair.
Tired of getting bullied by Union County inthe 21st District, Morris County Republican Chairman John Sette backs Vitureira – and Bramnick.
That leaves Meringolo the odd man out in his own county, at least when it comes to organizational support.
Thepolitical troublefor Vitureira – at least from the standpoint of trying to inflate a base that reaches beyond the border of Morris- appears to be the fact that Meringolois building his own launch pad in the same town, which already has the disadvantage of being located in Morris, and not Union.
But Vitureirasaid he is confident that while he may not possess vital organizational supportin neighboring Union County, hebelieves that in a Republican Party primary, voters will reward him on merit.
Married with two school-aged children, Vitureirahas lived in Long Hill Township for 15 years. Alawyer since 1989,he hasextensive experience in defending municipalities and their entities, and presently serves as a managing partner in a real estate investment company.
"I am running for the Assembly with the hope that people judge me on my record," said the candidate. "I attended Eric Munoz's wake last week. I love Eric, but I am running becasue I believe I am the best qualified candidate."
According to a release issued by his campaign today following Vitureira's filing, "Since 2007, when he became Mayor, municipal tax increases have been kept at an average of just over 2%, notwithstanding the large losses in State municipal aid. Using prudent management techniques, he has been able to reduce the Township’s operating budget for three consecutive years while improving the quality and diversity of services.Vitureira will take the same fiscal message to Trenton."
