Keady is crushed in CD-3 Dem Primary

Former Asbury Park Councilman Jim Keady, left and Belmar Mayor Lawless Matt Doherty, also left

Former Asbury Park Councilman Jim Keady, the man who provoked Governor Chris Christie into his famous “Sit Down and Shut Up” rant and then asked him out to dinner was easily defeated in his bid to become the Democrat nominee for the House of Representatives in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District.

Frederick John LaVergne will challenge Congressman Tom MacArthur the November general election. Based on unofficial results, LaVergne was the choice of 62.7% of CD-3 Democrats with 32,493 votes to Keady’s 19,347 votes.

LaVergne, who had the backing on the Burlington County Democrats, reportedly spent $600 on his primary campaign. Keady is reported to have spent $55,000.

Keady, a Spring Lake resident, has now twice tried and failed to parlay the notoriety he garnered from his confrontation with Christie into a political career. Last year he ran for State Assembly in the 3oth legislative district against Assemblymen Dave Rible and Sean Kean.

JerseyShoreInsider, the blog started by Monmouth County Democrat Chairman Vin Gopal last year to slander Monmouth and Ocean County Republicans falsely reported on Sunday that the Burlington Democrats had switched their endorsement to Keady. JSI reported last night that Keady had defeated LaVernge.