By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
State Assemblyman Reed Gusciora turned his attention Tuesday to retaining his seat in the Legislature, now that he is no longer being considered for a judgeship.
Mr. Gusciora, D-15, mingled with supporters at the restaurant Triumph Brewing Company restaurant in downtown Princeton to launch his campaign toward what he hopes is a tenth term in the Assembly.
Up until recently, Mr. Gusciora, an attorney who serves as the municipal prosecutor in Princeton and Lawrence, was being discussed as a future Superior Court judge.
But he said that about three weeks ago, an "intermediary" with Gov. Chris Christie told him that "it’s not going to happen." A spokesman for the governor did not respond to an email seeking comment on Wednesday.
Mr. Gusciora, 54, said he was "honored to be considered" but acknowledged that his taking the bench is not happening "any time soon."
With that out of the way, Mr. Gusciora needs a running mate for next year. In the chessboard of Mercer County politics, Democratic Party leaders have been maneuvering in anticipation of Mr. Gusciora’s fellow 15th district Democrat, Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, resigning her seat to head to Congress. Ms. Watson Coleman this month won the 12th District congressional seat of the retiring Rep. Rush Holt.
Her winning created an opening for her Assembly seat, which has a year to go on the term.
The 15th Legislative District encompasses parts of Mercer and Hunterdon counties, including West Windsor, Lawrence, Hopewell Township and Borough and Lambertville.
Democrats in the two counties will have to hold a convention to choose a replacement. Mr. Gusciora said he expects the seat to go to someone from Mercer County. Already, people are lining up to replace her.
Former West Windsor Councilman Kamal Khanna said Tuesday that he intends to run. Mercer County Democratic Chairwoman Elizabeth Muoio, aligned with Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes, and Mercer County Freeholder Samuel T Frisby, aligned with Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson, also have been mentioned in political circles as candidates. A source close to Mayor Jackson said this week that Mr. Frisby is an "ally" of the mayor.
Neither Ms. Muoio nor Mr. Frisby returned a phone call seeking comment Wednesday.
For his part, Mr. Khanna called himself "as good a choice as any."
As for Mr. Gusciora, he has been in the Assembly since 1996. In the press release announcing Tuesday’s event, Mr. Gusciora was described as "one of the strongest liberal voices in the General Assembly."