Campaign News Briefs

Somerset County: Two-term Peapack-Gladstone Councilman (and former Bridgewater Council President) Donald Lemma will seek the Republican nomination for Somerset County Commissioner.  He worked at Columbia University as the associate dean and chief information officer at Columbia Business School and as director of computing at Stanford University’s SLAC National Laboratory.  “I am proud to endorse Don Lemma,” said Tim Howes, the Somerset GOP county chairman.  “Whether we are opposing overdevelopment or promoting sound emergency management, Don is the leader that Somerset County needs.”

Hunterdon County:  Shaun Van Doren, a former Tewksbury mayor, received his party’s endorsement for re-election to a third term as a Hunterdon County Commission. “The Committee unanimously backed Commissioner Van Doren for re-election, recognizing his leadership, experience, and exemplary service to the public over his years of service, in addition to his commitment to the taxpayers,” said Republican County Chairman Gabe Plumer.

Morris County: In advance of tomorrow’s GOP county convention, County Commissioner Tayfun Selen announced endorsements from Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, Assemblyman Christian Barranco, and the mayors of Lincoln Park, Boonton Township, and Pequannock.  Selen faces 2022 congressional candidate Paul DeGroot and Anthony Somma.

Departure:  After seven years as a tax and budget policy expert at New Jersey Policy Perspective, today was the last day for Sheila Reynertson.  She has accepted another job in New Jersey but has not announced her new destination. 

Weekend: the Latino Action Network’s Annual Legislative Assembly is set for Saturday in New Brunswick, with Gov. Phil Murphy, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, Rep. Frank Pallone, and State Sen. Nellie Pou on the speaker’s list.

Arrest:  Attorney General Matt Platkin announced that 28-year-old Jocquise R. Timmons was arrested in South Carolina for the attempted murder of two New Jersey State Troopers in Paterson.  “Each and every day, our New Jersey Troopers put their lives on the line to keep New Jerseyans safe from gun violence, but yesterday one of our own fell victim to the very crime he was working to prevent,” Platkin said.