Eight GOP municipal chairs have endorsed Glenn Mortimer for re-election as the Union County Republican chairman, along with support from a group of local elected officials.
Mortimer faces a challenge from Carlos Santos, a two-time county commissioner candidate who thinks it’s time for a change in leadership. Mortimer has been the county chairman since 2014.
The local party chairs in Berkeley Heights, Cranford, Fanwood, Kenilworth, Mountainside, New Providence, Summit, and Westfield are backing Mortimer for a sixth term, along with Republican mayors Paull Mirabelli (Mountainside), Al Morgan (New Providence), and Elizabeth Fagan (Summit). Governing body members in Berkeley Heights, Cranford, Kenilworth, Mountainside, New Providence, Summit, and Westfield are also backing Mortimer.
Santos’s path to winning is filling large blocks of vacant county committee seats in Elizabeth, Linden, and Union Township.
Also endorsing Mortimer is former Rep. Leonard Lance (R-Clinton Township), who represented parts of Union County for a decade in the U.S. House of Representatives. Mortimer worked on Lance’s congressional staff.
Rep. Tom Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield), State Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield), and Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis (R-New Providence) and Nancy Munoz (R-Summit) endorsed Mortimer last week.
Fagan, who won an upset victory in Democratic-leaning Summit last year that shifted control of the city’s local government to the Republicans, gave some credit to Mortimer for her win.
“I met Glenn a few years ago and have watched as he has steadily and enthusiastically led the Union County Republicans. Glenn listens, works hard, and brings people together,” she said. “Without Glenn’s support and guidance, my running mates and I may not have seen the success we saw in Summit last November.”
Westfield GOP Municipal Chairman Sam Della Fera also credits Mortimer for helping him sweep four town council seats in Democratic Mayor Shelley Brindle’s mid-term election.
“Over the years, Glenn’s steady and thoughtful leadership has been a unifying force among Union County conservatives, and has helped local Republicans succeed in towns like Westfield,” Della Fera said.
Missing from Mortimer’s endorsement list are Clark, Elizabeth, Garwood, Hillside, Linden, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Union and Winfield.