Sardis Launches Write-in Bid for GOP Committee Nomination

Former Warren Township Board of Education member Tony Sardis launched a write-in bid for the Republican nomination for the Township Committee.

The party nominated George Lazo and Michael Marion to run in the June 7 primary—the top two vote-getters in the primary will be on the November ballot to fill seats currently held by Mal Palger and Frank Salvato.

An email message sent to supporters and local news media touted Sardis' experience as a board member, and his background.

"I announced my intent to run for Township Committee in March, 2011," Sardis wrote in an attachment to the email. "The Republican Party, subsequently, interviewed candidates and chose George Lazo and Mick Marion as its nominees. The nominating committee asked if I would run against the ticket if not chosen and I said 'no.' Consequently, I did not run in the primary because I had given my word."

But he said since then, he learned one of the Republican candidates, George Lazo, "misrepresented" his registration as a Republican, and Sardis said the failure of the local party to address the issue "compromised" the "integrity of the process."

"Out of an abundance of caution, I discussed the situation with several members of the nominating committee and they did not discourage my candidacy," he added. "Based on the foregoing, I believe that I have a responsibility to provide a legitimate alternative to the current ticket."