Manchester Mayor Staying Out Of 10th District Assembly Race

MANCHESTER, NJ — With the announcement last week thatDavid Wolfe, New Jersey's 10th District assemblyman, will not be seeking re-election, the political scrambling to replace him has begun.

Talk in political circles is that a Republican from Brick will receive the party's favor in pursuit of the Assembly seat, as state Sen. Jim Holzapfel and Assemblyman Greg McGuckin are both from Toms River.

One person who says he's definitely not interested: Manchester Township Mayor Kenneth T. Palmer. Palmer was elected to his second term as mayor in November.

"Over the past few days I have received a number of calls and inquiries about my interest in pursuing the Assembly position for the 10th Legislative District," Palmer said in written statement. "While I am humbled to be considered, I will not pursue that position."

"I am confident whomever the Ocean County Republicans select to run in the fall will represent the residents of the Tenth District with as much integrity and skill as David Wolfe," Palmer said.

Wolfe last week said he would be retiring at the end of this term, after 26 years of serving in the Assembly, to spend more time with his family.

The 10th District includes Bay Head, Brick, Island Heights, Lakehurst, Lavallette, Manchester Township, Mantoloking, Point Pleasant Beach, Seaside Heights and Toms River.

Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here.

Follow Manchester Patch on Facebook. Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com

Manchester Mayor Kenneth T. Palmer takes the oath as he is sworn in for his second term. Photo by Gregory Kyriakakis, Manchester Township press officer