By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
Former Republican Assemblywoman Donna M. Simon said Wednesday that she is considering running for her old seat next year in a possible rematch in the 16th district against a freshman Democrat who beat her by fewer than 80 votes in November.
“I’m giving it serious consideration,” she said by phone. She said she would probably make up her mind this fall whether to get into the race.
Less than a year since losing to Democrat Andrew Zwicker, she is keeping her options open. She filed paperwork with the New Jersey Election Law and Enforcement Commission to be able to roll forward her campaign fund for 2017. She has $43,267 left in her coffers, according to records filed July 14.
If she were to make a comeback in 2017, this would be her fourth run for Assembly in a span of six years.
Ms. Simon, 56, of Readington, was appointed in 2012 to replace the late Peter J. Biondi in the state Assembly. She won a special election that year to fill out the rest of Mr. Biondi’s term and then won re-election in 2013.
But last year, she lost in an upset to Mr. Zwicker in what once was a safe Republican district spanning parts of Mercer, Middlesex, Hunterdon and Somerset counties. The addition of Princeton and South Brunswick had made the district competitive for Democrats, such that Mr. Zwicker defeated her by fewer than 80 votes.
Mr. Zwicker, serving the first year of his two-year term, said by email Wednesday that had no comment.
Republican Assemblyman Jack M. Ciattarelli and state Sen. Kip Bateman make up the rest of the legislative delegation in the 16th district.
For his part, Mr. Ciattarelli said Wednesday that Ms. Simon has expressed the same sentiment — that she is considering running — to him as well. He described her as a “very dedicated public servant” and said he has encouraged her to get into the race.
Next year will be a major election year in New Jersey, with the governor and the entire state Legislature on the ballot. Mr. Ciattarelli said he is considering running for governor, and would make an announcement about his plans in the early fall.
