Field Narrowed In Search For Muoio Replacement: Report

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ — One of four people will reportedly replace Elizabeth Muoio (D-15) in the New Jersey State Assembly. Muoio vacated her seat last month after Gov. Phil Murphy appointed her to serve as New Jersey State Treasurer. She is serving as Acting Treasurer until she is confirmed by the State Senate.

Democrats will select her replacement when they meet on Feb. 10, the Princeton Packet reports. According to the report, the field of possible successors has been narrowed to Mercer County Democratic Chairwoman and Trenton Councilwoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson; Mercer County Freeholder Anthony S. Verrelli; West Windsor Councilwoman Ayesha Hamilton; and Ewing Councilwoman Jennifer Keyes-Maloney. Whoever is nominated will serve the remainder of this year, and have the option of running in a special election in November.

Muoio had represented the 15th Legislative District as an assemblywoman since 2015, when she was appointed to the seat to replace Bonnie Watson Coleman after Coleman was elected to Congress. She was officially elected to the seat that November, and was re-elected in this year's November elections. Murphy nominated the 54-year-old Muoio, of Pennington, to his cabinet in December. She resigned from her assembly seat last month.

The district covers parts of Mercer County — including Lawrence Township — and parts of Hunterdon County. Other municipalities in the district include East Amwell, Ewing, Hopewell Borough (Mercer), Hopewell Township (Mercer), Lambertville, Pennington, Trenton, West Amwell and West Windsor.
Democrat Reed Gusciora occupies the other Assembly Seat, and Shirley K. Turner represents the district in the State Senate.

The attached image of Elizabeth Muoio was posted on the New Jersey State Legislature's website.