Muñoz, Matsikoudis unveil endorsements from 118 Republicans

Assemblywomen Nancy Muñoz (R-Summit) and Michele Matsikoudis (R-New Providence) released a list of 119 endorsements from state, county, and local Republicans on Wednesday.

Assembly Republican Leader John DiMaio and RNC committee members Bill Palatucci and Janice Fields joined the list of endorsers in the 21st district.

Morris County Commissioners Christine Myers, Douglas Cabana, Thomas Mastrangelo, Tayfun Selen, County Clerk Ann Grossi, and Sheriff James Gannon endorsed the Assemblywomen.

All four county GOP chairs in the 21st district, Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield), state Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield), and 17 municipal GOP chairs had previously endorsed the pair of Assembly Republicans. Far Hills Borough GOP Chairman Jack McNamara endorsed Muñoz and Matsikoudis, giving the pair endorsements from GOP chairs in 18 of the district’s 19 towns.

“When Republicans stay united and work to present our common-sense vision of fiscal responsibility and public safety to residents, our message resonates with voters,” Muñoz and Matsikoudis said in a release. “We are proud to have the broad support of state, county, and local officials in District 21, and look forward to continuing to share our record with residents in the year ahead.”

A half-dozen state committee members also endorsed the pair: April Bengivenga and Don Katz from Middlesex County, Christina Ramirez and Larry Casha from Morris County, and Lisa Allen from Union County.

But Brian Johdos, the Republican State Committeeman from Union County who had been initially included on the endorsement list, removed himself.

“I actually only ever endorsed Michele,” he told the New Jersey Globe.  “I don’t support Nancy.”

Thirteen mayors endorsed the pair: Jennifer Asay (Bernards); Mary Jane Canose (Bernardsville Borough); Jason Cilento (Dunellen); Kevin Welsh (Far Hills); Jim Van Arsdale (Green Brook); Guy Piserchia (Long Hill); Jack Mikolajczyk (Middlesex Borough); Paul Mirabelli (Mountainside); Allen Morgan (New Providence); Mark Corigliano (Peapack & Gladstone Borough); Elizabeth Fagan (Summit City); and Ronald Jubin (Watchung).

The 21st district seats are potentially competitive next year. Kamala Harris carried the district by twelve percentage points last month; in 2021, Republican Jack Ciattarelli won the district by 290 votes, running about three-tenths of one percent in front of Gov. Phil Murphy. Andrew Macurdy, a former federal and state prosecutor, is seeking the Democratic nomination.

The following deputy mayors, councilmembers, and committee members endorsed Muñoz and Matsikoudis:

Berkeley Heights Council President John Foster and Councilmembers Manuel Cuoto and Paul Donnelly; Bernards Deputy Mayor Janice Fields and Committee Members Gary Baumann and Andrew McNally; Bernardsville Council President Al Ribeiro and Councilmembers Jay Ambelang and Jena McCredie; Chatham Township Committeeman Mark Lois; Dunellen Council President Teresa Albertson and Councilmembers Crisol-Iris Lantz, Trina Rios, William Scott, Daniel Cole Sigmon, and Hal Vandermark; Far Hills Council President Peter Cocoziello, Jr. and Councilmembers Mary Chimenti, David Karner, Rick Rinzler, and Charles Schwester; Garwood Councilwoman Kim Salmon; Green Brook Deputy Mayor Jim Benscoter and Committee Members Brian Conway, Jerry Searfoss, and Nancy Stoll; Long Hill Deputy Mayor Scott Lavender and Committee Members Matthew Dorsi, Aubrey Reichard-Eline, and Victor Verlezza; Middlesex Borough Council President Michael Conahan and Councilmembers Jeremiah Carnes, Robert Dessino, Kevin Dotey, and Martin Quinn; Mountainside Council President Donna Pacifico and Councilmembers Steven Matejek, Donald Ronaldo, Jr., Alex Van Deusen, and Valerie Wass; New Providence Council President Peter DeSarno and Councilmembers Diane Bilicska, Matthew Cumiskey, Nadine Geoffroy, Alex Kogan, and Lisa McKnight; Peapack & Gladstone Council President John Sweeney and Councilmembers Eric Quartello, Sergio Silva, Julie Sueta, and Jill Weible; Summit Council President Mike McTernan and Councilmembers Jamel Boyer, Delia Hamlet, Robert Pawlowski, and Kevin Smallwood; Warren Township Deputy Mayor Lisa Lontai and Committee Members Shaun Fine, Vanessa Kian, and George Lazo; Watchung Council President Christine Ead and Councilmembers Sonia Abi-Habib, Curt Dahl, Paul Fischer, Robert Gibbs, and Paolo Marano; and Westfield Councilmembers Michael Armento, Michal Domogala, David Kiefer, and Todd Saunders.