Tibbets is first LD15 Republican candidate

Though their opportunity to take it won’t come for several months, Republicans already have a candidate for Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora’s vacant Assembly seat.

Justin Tibbets, a member of Trenton’s ethics board and a republican committeeman is running for the seat, which the district’s Democratic committee people will fill with a special election on Thursday.

“For too long the residents of New Jersey have been let down by their state government. Tax increase after tax increase has made our state less desirable for job growth and has burdened the middle class and the poor to levels never seen before,” Tibbets said in a statement.

Whoever draws the most county committee votes on Thursday will need to win the most votes from the districts voters in November to serve out the remainder of the term.

Republican Tracy Sinatra is challenging Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-Trenton) for the unexpired term of Elizabeth Muoio.  Muoio left office in January to become Gov.  Phil Murphy’s state treasurer.