Morris GOP freeholder primary takes shape

Four days before the filing deadline, it looks like the Morris County Republican freeholder primary is beginning to take form.

Morris County GOP sources are speculating that Freeholder Deborah Smith will run on a ticket with two former freeholders seeking comebacks: Hank Lyon and John Krickus.  Freeholder John Cesaro’s ticket will include former Mountain Lakes Mayor Stephen Shaw and Aura Dunn, the top New Jersey staffer for Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen.

A third freeholder, Christine Myers, is not seeking re-election.  Named to a U.S. Small Business Administration post in the Trump administration last December, she is finishing her term but not allowed to run in the general election.

Lyon gave up his seat in 2017 to run for the State Assembly against incumbent Betty Lou DeCroce.  Cesaro also joined that race, siphoning away votes from Lyon, who lost by 1,889 votes.  Krickus was ousted in the 2005 GOP primary when Cesaro beat him by 194 votes.