Handlin will run for Assembly if she fails in Senate bid, wants O’Scanlon to do the same
O’Scanlon: “While I appreciate Amy’s confidence and endorsement for Assembly, I am running for Senate”
Assemblywoman Amy Handlin said she would seek another term in the New Jersey General Assembly if the 13th district County Committee members choose another candidate to replace Senator Joe Kyrillos in the upper house of the legislature. So far, the only other candidate for the Senate seat is Handlin’s district mate, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon.
“Yes and yes,” Handlin said when asked if she would seek the GOP nomination for Assembly if she failed in her Senate bid and if she wanted O’Scanlon on the ticket as a candidate for Assembly.
“I’ve been top vote-getter across the district by considerable margins every time I’ve run. Along with my anti-gas tax stance, I believe that basic and essential fact makes me the strongest candidate at the top of the ticket in a tough year. But either way, there will be one incumbent Assembly member who can stay on the ticket. As Republicans, we can’t risk losing an Assembly seat by losing a proven incumbent. ”
O’Scanlon said both Assembly seats are open and that he would support Handlin for one of them, if she commits before other candidates come forward.
“While I appreciate Amy’s confidence and endorsement for Assembly, I am running for Senate,” O’Scanlon said. “There is a wealth of Republican talent in the 13th district, many of whom would make fine Assembly members and who have proven their electability . Amy is not being fair to them or to our constituents by ‘reserving her spot’ while she seeks higher office. Amy should decide what office she wants to compete for and then commit to it.
“If Amy declares for Assembly, and not Senate, before others do, she will have my support. Until then, both Assembly seats should be considered open.
“Regarding the gas tax, given my leadership in the legislature, I did not have the luxury of a politically expedient vote. When it became obvious that the gas tax was inevitable given the Democratic support, I went to work and helped win one of the largest tax cut packages in NJ history, including tax cuts for seniors, veterans and small business owners. Amy was not at that table.
“I look forward to debating this issue with Amy, as well as our mutual records in the legislature, before the county committee members should she continue her campaign for Senate.”
No candidates have declared for the Assembly seats yet. Several has expressed interest, including Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger, who also said he might run for the Senate seat. Freeholder Deputy Director Serena DiMaso, Union Beach Councilman Charlie Cocuzza and Atlantic Highlands Board of Education member Brent Sonnek-Schmeltz are also in the mix for Assembly.
Disclosure: Art Gallagher, publisher of MoreMonmouthMusings, is an adviser to Declan O’Scanlon
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here we go! Suggesting all the leaders in that district have some kind of informal discussion( taking emotion out of it!) and try and field the strongest ticket they can come up with, because we do not need to lose even one more seat in our delegation in ’17, which may wind up bring a statewide bloodbath, if we are not careful.. would it not be helpful for the org to solicit resumes and letters of intent( with perhaps some endorsers on them,) so any infighting over ambitions may be kept to a minimum?..
The party doesn’t exist to further Amy’s political career. It exists to serve the residents. PS – has Amy ever even stepped foot in Fair Haven or Little Silver?
of the assemblywoman are usually confined to the groups’ events who can get her nominated or re- elected.. some Middletowners in office over the years took shortcuts, and appeared mostly at their town events because they are the largest, often neglecting smaller Bayshore or Shore towns.. this particular one has always done as little campaigning and interacting as possible-and it obviously worked for her, over her long career in office.. only her constituents can decide if in fact it will be enough, next year.
anyone more dishonest and sleazy than Declan O’Scanlon? Here Amy Handlin advises him to stay in his Assembly seat if he doesn’t get the line and he thanks her for her endorsement. It wasn’t an endorsement it was advice. Totally misleading and dishonest.
@Is there —–we bothh know the answer. He has lied to the public and not even had the balls to vote on the GAS TAX but yet publicly supports it, knowing full well that in 8 years we will be back in the same position (he said so on the radio). Trust him? Not a chance.