By John Burton
An email message sent Thursday asks supporters of U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, D-6th, to volunteer to go door-to-door this weekend to collect signatures for a petition to ensure the congressman’s place on the ballot for U.S, Senate in the special primary election in August.
Pallone’s chief of staff, Jeff Carroll, said Thursday neither he nor the congressman would have any comment on whether Pallone intends to run “out of respect for the congressman’s friend,” the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who died earlier this week.
“In due time he’ll (Pallone) make an announcement about his intentions,’ Carroll said.
However, an email sent to supporters asks them to volunteer to get the necessary 1,000 signatures on a petition for the special Aug. 13 primary election to determine who will run on the Democratic party line in the special Oct. 16 election to fill the senate seat from New Jersey.
According to state law, petitions must be filed by 4 p.m. Monday, June 10, with the state’s Division of Elections.
Pallone, who represents the 6th Congressional District, has been a member of Congress for 25 years. He has been mentioned by many as a possible successor to Lautenberg, who, at 89, announced earlier this year he would not seek another term when this one ended in 2014. Lautenberg died Monday and will be buried Friday at Arlington National Cemetery.
Today, U.S Representative. Rush Holt, D-12, announced his intentions to run in the primary.
Newark Mayor Cory Booker previously made his intentions to run for the office earlier this year.
