Former Barnegat Mayor John Novak has withdrawn as a candidate for State Assembly in the 9th district following the recommendation of the Ocean GOP screening committee. Novak dropped his challenge for the good of the party during the weekly breakfast of Republican leaders at a Waretown diner. The screening committee voted to recommend the re-election of Brian Rumpf and Stafford Mayor Greg Myhre to replace another incumbent, DiAnne Gove. Lacey Mayor Timothy McDonald, Lacey Township Committeeman Mark Dykoff, and Valerie Smith are still in the race, but were considered less of a threat at the convention than Novak.
Here's what you need to know:
- Former Barnegat Mayor John Novak has withdrawn as a candidate for State Assembly in the 9th district.
- Novak made the announcement at a weekly breakfast of Republican leaders at a Waretown diner.
- Novak dropped his floor challenge at the March 8 convention for the good of the party.
- The screening committee recommended the re-election of Brian Rumpf and Stafford Mayor Greg Myhre to replace DiAnne Gove.
- Gove is planning to fight for her seat at the convention.
- Novak had entered the race to challenge Rumpf and Gove last year, but Rumpf was able to salvage his seat, while Gove was not.
- Lacey Mayor Timothy McDonald, Lacey Township Committeeman Mark Dykoff, and Valerie Smith are still in the race but were considered less of a threat at the convention than Novak.
- Some of the Lacey contingent were at the breakfast at Kristy's Casual Dining, but there were no announcements from Dykoff or McDonald.
