By Matt Rooney
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The first candidate to succeed Michael Patrick Carroll — the LD25 conservative Republican Assemblyman who New Jersey Globe reported on Monday is not seeking reelection — is putting his name into circulation, Save Jerseyans.
Brian Bergen of Denville confirmed his interest with Save Jersey earlier today not long after the news concerning Carroll’s prospective Morris County Surrogate candidacy broke.
“I am a West Point graduate, former Army Officer, combat Veteran, dedicated family man, small business owner and active community volunteer. I am dedicated to service and always want to find the best ways where I can use my talents to help my community and country,” said Bergen in an e-mail. “The NJ State Assembly offers me a place to push my strong conservative fiscal beliefs and to fight back against frivolous spending and unnecessary handouts. I am young, driven, and completely dedicated to helping others. I am equally as driven to helping the Republican Party and I intend to spend the next 6 months working diligently to support the local elections. We have a lot of great Republican candidates in the 25th district and I intend to burn shoe leather supporting them in November…”
“In a speech to the West Point Corps of Cadets in the early 1990’s, General Norman Schwarzkopf famously stated that to be a leader in the 21stCentury you needed to have Competence and Character. I am confident that I will be the only candidate looking to fill the void left by Michael Patrick Carroll that fully embodies these traits. I have unshakable integrity and have a lifetime of military and civilian accomplishments to demonstrate my competence. I am excited to rally support from the Republican Party and to generate enough momentum and excitement to get the party behind me as their candidate for November 2019. Together we can unite in common purpose and work together to serve the best interests of our community, state and nation.”
Bergen joined Denville Township Council following the 2017 election to represent Ward 2.
Carroll’s current term expires in January 2020.
LD25 encompasses the Morris County municipalities of Boonton Town, Boonton Township, Chester Borough, Chester Township, Denville Township, Dover Town, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township, Mine Hill Township, Morris Township, Morristown Town, Mount Arlington Borough, Mountain Lakes Borough, Netcong Borough, Randolph Township, Rockaway Borough, Roxbury Township, Victory Gardens Borough, Washington Township and Wharton Borough in addition to the Somerset County community of Bernardsville Borough.
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