Call Out for Bernards Republican Committee Candidates

The Bernards Township Republican Municipal Committee is conducting a screening process for candidates who would like the local Republican endorsement for this November's election for a three-year term on the Bernards Township Committee.

The screening will be held at the Liberty Corner firehouse at 7 p.m. Monday, March 18.

Prospective candidates should contact John Bayeux, chairman of the Bernards Township Republican Municipal Committee, by Friday, March 16, to be placed on the agenda for the screening process. Bayeux can be reached at 908-542-0653.

Bayeux previously said that the Republican committee usually endorses the incumbent Republican candidate. However, earlier this year, GOP Township Committeeman and former Mayor Scott Spitzer announced he would not seek re-election for a third term on the all-Republican Township Committeeman.

Since then, Republicans Kevin Orr and Carol Bianchi, both members of the Bernards Township Planning Board, have and will seek to represent local Republicans on the ballot this year.

"While we currently have two announced candidates, we welcome any other Republicans in town who want to become active in driving the direction of our country back to our conservative roots," Bayeux said in a news release this week from the Republican municipal committee.

"Scott Spitzer has served Bernards Township for many years, including the past six as a member of the Township Committee," Bayeux said in the news release. "We thank him for his dedication to continuing to make our town a wonderful place to live and raise a family. We are saddened by his decision to not seek re-election."

Bayeux said, "Our Township Committee has a long tradition of conservative governance. Fiscal responsibility is the hallmark of the solidly conservative Republicans who serve the interests of all constituents in our Township. For the first time in years, we will not have an incumbent running for re-election.

He said the Republican municipal committee is looking for "a solid candidate who will work with the other four members of the [Township] Committee to continue this tradition during this year's candidate screening."

Screening of candidates open to the public

The public is invited to attend the screening process and meet the potential candidates, Bayeux said.

Republican state district 21 representatives, Senator Tom Kean Jr. and Assembly representatives Jon Bramnick and Nancy Munoz are expected to attend, along with Somerset County GOP candidates, Freeholder Pat Walsh and Sheriff Frank Provenzano, Bayeux said. "Each will address the gathering," he said.

"This election, we will work to re-elect our governor, Chris Christie, so he can continue to restore our state to fiscal sanity," Bayeux said. "We will also work to ensure that we send our District 21 Legislative team back to Trenton and keep the Somerset County leadership team in exclusively Republican hands."