Polistina mulling bid for Brown Senate seat

Former Assemblyman Vince Polistina (R-Egg Harbor Township) is interested in running for the open State Senate seat in the hugely competitive 2nd legislative district.

The seat opened up today following the announcement that State Sen. Christopher Brown (R-Ventnor) will not seek re-election to a second term.

“I am absolutely thinking about it,” Polistina told the New Jersey Globe.  “I’m making some calls and will decide today or tomorrow.”

Polistina, 49, was elected to the State Assembly in 2007, flipping an open Democratic Assembly seat by 3,904 votes, and was re-elected in 2009 by nearly 10,000 votes.

He gave up his seat to challenge State Sen. James Whelan (D-Atlantic City) in 2011, losing by 3,078 votes, 53%-47%.   Brown won Polistina’s Assembly seat.

Atlantic City Councilman Jesse O. Kurtz told the NJ Globe that he did not plan to enter the Senate race and would continue his bid to win the GOP organization line for State Assembly.

The candidate will be chosen at the Atlantic County Republican Convention, tentatively set for March 20.

Convention rules would allow a candidate to seek the Senate seat and if unsuccessful, also run for one of the two 2nd district Assembly seats, the NJ Globe has learned.