By Philip Sean Curran, Packet Media Group
Assemblyman Reed Gusciora has turned his attention to retaining his seat in the Legislature, now that he is no longer being considered for a judgeship.
Mr. Gusciora, a Democrat whose district includes Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township and Pennington, mingled with supporters Nov. 18 at the Triumph Brewing Company restaurant in downtown Princeton to launch his campaign for what he hopes is a 10th term in the Assembly.
Until recently, Mr. Gusciora, an attorney who serves as the municipal prosecutor in Princeton and Lawrence, was being discussed as a potential Superior Court judge.
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 Nov. 19.
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. Even he does not know who that person will be.
Democratic Party leaders have been maneuvering in anticipation of Mr. Gusciora’s fellow 15th District Democrat, Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, resigning to head to Congress. Ms. Watson Coleman this month won the 12th District Congressional seat of the retiring Rep. Rush Holt.
Her victory created an opening for her Assembly seat, which has a year to go on the term.
Hunterdon County municipalities of Lambertville City and East and West Amwell townships are included in a district dominated by the Mercer County municipalities of Pennington, Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township, Ewing Township. Lawrence Township, West Windsor Township and Trenton.
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.
Lambertville Mayor David DelVecchio said he was thinking about it.
Former West Windsor Councilman Kamal Khanna said he intends to run.
Mercer County Democratic Chairwoman Elizabeth Muoio, aligned with Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes, and Mercer County Freeholder Samuel Frisby, aligned with Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson, also have been mentioned as candidates. A source close to Mayor Jackson said last week that Mr. Frisby is an "ally" of the mayor.
Neither Ms. Muoio nor Mr. Frisby returned phone calls seeking comment last week.
Another candidate who has expressed interest in the seat is Lance Lopez Sr., president of the PBA Local 105, the state corrections officers union.
Having Mr. Gusciora become a judge would have cleared the deck for both Ms. Muoio and Mr. Frisby to go the Assembly and stopped any intraparty feud about who gets Ms. Watson Coleman’s seat.
For his part, Mr. Khanna called himself "as good a choice as any."
Mr. Gusciora has been in the Assembly since 1996. In the press release announcing the Nov. 18 event, Mr. Gusciora was described as "one of the strongest liberal voices in the General Assembly."
