Former Morris County Freeholder Hank Lyon has abandoned his bid for a political comeback, leaving his running mates one candidate short of a full ticket.
Lyon, who gave up his freeholder seat to run for the State Assembly, filed nominating petitions on Monday to run with incumbent Deborah Smith and another ex-freeholder, John Krickus.
“It has been one wild week,” Lyon said in a Facebook post. “Unfortunately, today I decided to withdraw my candidacy for Morris County Freeholder. Instead, I will focus my attention on other endeavors. I wish the remaining candidates well.”
Sources say that Lyon didn’t felt uncomfortable with the drama surrounding the race for Morris County Republican Chairman and thought the campaign apparatus behind the ticket was not well organized. The sources say that pressure for an endorsement of Rob Zwigard for chairman helped push Lyon out.
Lyon is reportedly interested in running for the Assembly again and viewed the timeline as untenable if Jay Webber is elected to Congress. He would need to begin campaigning for the legislature even before taking the oath of office as a freeholder.
Former Morris County Sheriff Ed Rochford had harsh words for Lyon in a Facebook post.
“He has now screwed Deborah,” Rochford wrote. “Remember, I supported Hank and worked closely with him. He has changed, and not for the better.”
The announcement Monday of a Smith/Lyon/Krickus ticket seemed to generate some excitement among Morris County Republicans. But one source suggested that the oxygen has left and that “Smith and Krickus are snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.”
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Why does anyone care what Ed Rochford thinks?
Because he may be one of the only honest politicians left in Morris County.
Nah, Councilman Bob DeFillippo holds that title.
Rumor has it, he had a hard time deciding which part of the county he lived in.
I’m a bit surprised that Lyon would drop out right after making such an important decision. I would question his motivation.
Deborah Smith, who hasn’t really been an effective Freeholder, is the one we should be questioning. Why should voters re-elect someone who is a back-bencher? Cesaro has my vote.
Morris County GOP is led horribly and incompetently on both the elected and non-elected fronts. The Democrats are hot on our tail, and we’re mired down in selfish, banal and destructive infighting.
SHOW STATESMANSHIP, HONESTY AND MATURITY, MORRIS COUNTY REPUBLICANS!
If you want statesmanship, honesty, and maturity, vote for anyone but Deb Smith for Freeholder on June 5.
Explain and identify yourself, Mr. J. Why must I not vote for Deborah Smith?