Beth Mason Reportedly Eyeing Lautenberg's Senate Seat

Second Ward Councilwoman Beth Mason is exploring a run for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by Sen. Frank Lautenberg's death on Monday, The Star Ledger reported.

The news site said that Mason, who was not available for comment, had contacted party leaders to express her interest in filling Lautenberg's vacated seat, but has not made a decision about running.

Mason, a Democrat currently in her second term as a Hoboken councilwoman, was first elected in 2007, but has been involved in Hoboken politics since 2003, when she ran for and lost the Second Ward seat. She ran an unsuccessful mayoral campaign in 2009.

Gov. Chris Christie Thursday announced the appointment of New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa as Lautenberg's interim successor until a special election can be held in October.

The deadline for candidates to file for the special election is Monday, with Democratic and Republican primaries scheduled for Aug. 13 and the general election set for Oct. 16.

Chiesa, a Book Bround native, does not plan to run for the seat in October, so both Republicans and Democrats are rushing to procure the required 1,000 petitions by the filing deadline on Monday at 4 p.m.

The winner of October's special election will serve out the rest of Lautenberg's term — approximately 13 months — before the seat goes up for grabs again next November.