Nicholas F. Kush, a former State Assembly and Freeholder candidate from Camden County and the father of Republican political consultant Steve Kush, died on April 4 after a short illness. He was 78.
Kush was the Republican candidate for freeholder in 2009, but he lost to Democrats Jeff Nash, Rodney Greco, and Ian Leonard. On the campaign trail, he became an admirer of Nash, the longest-serving county commissioner in New Jersey.
In 2018, he stepped up to run for assemblyman in a special election after the incumbent, Arthur Barclay (D-Camden), resigned following his arrest on domestic violence and assault charges. In one of the state’s most staunchly Democratic districts and a Democratic wave election nationally, Kush was defeated by William Spearman (D-Camden), a Camden city councilman. Spearman won by 22,139 votes, 66%-34%.
Kush enjoyed running for office and again sought the 5th legislative district Assembly seat in 2019. He lost to Spearman and Bill Moen (D-Bellmawr), a freeholder seeking to replace retiring Assemblywoman Patricia Egan Jones (D-Barrington). The top GOP vote-getter, Kush ran 10,987 votes behind Moen.
A member of Teamsters Local 676 member, he spent more than two decades in the shipping department at WonderBread/Hostess Depot. Kush had been a foreman at Eastern Records and Superior Records and, in retirement, worked for the Gloucester Township Board of Education.
His family said he enjoyed his family, gardening with a Bud Light in his hand and working on his ’75 Corvette Stingray.
In addition to his son, Kush is survived by his wife, Laurie, four other children, his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, two sisters, his cousin and best friend, Tommy Flynn, and his dogs.
A visitation will be held on April 10 from 11 AM to 1 PM at the Gardner Funeral Home in Runnemede, followed by a funeral service. A celebration of his life will be held later that day at The Spread Eagle in Mount Ephraim.