Days after announcing that he will seek the Democratic nomination for Essex County Commissioner-At-Large, Livingston Mayor Shawn Klein will not see re-election to a fourth term on the Livingston Township Council.
The decision opens the door for Livingston Democrats to recruit and screen a new candidate to replace Klein on the ticket. Two other incumbents, Edward Meinhardt and Ketan Bhuptani, are expected to run.
“As a councilman and your current mayor, I have put my all into keeping Livingston the incredible community that we all know and love, and if I win the race to become the next County Commissioner, I will still be representing Livingston at that level,” said Klein. “And while I am excited for whatever the future might bring, of course, I will finish this current term with all of the love and devotion I have for this town in partnership with our great town council.”
Klein and Meinhardt were elected in 2014, defeating two incumbents; they were easily re-elected twice. Bhuptani won a special election after Rosy Bagolie was elected to the State Assembly; he is the deputy mayor and is expected to become mayor next year if he wins in November.
Republicans have not won a Livingston council race in sixteen years.
This will be the first local primary without county organization lines.
The filing deadline is March 23.
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