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The Star-Ledger
Rep. Ferguson won't
seek re-election
by Josh Margolin,
nj.com on the Web. November 19, 2007
Saying he wants to spend more time
with his family, Republican Rep. Mike Ferguson of the 7th District announced
today he will not seek re-election next year after serving in Congress since
2001.
"My wife, Maureen, and I have four children, the oldest of whom is 9 years old,"
Ferguson said in a prepared statement. "Since first being elected in 2000,
I have strived to balance my responsibilities to my family and to my
constituents."
Ferguson described his time in Congress as extremely meaningful, but said, "I
know that now is the right time to step away from public life to focus more on
family life while our children are still young."
State GOP Chairman Tom Wilson said Ferguson was in no way scared out of a
re-election bid by the planned Democratic onslaught he was facing. "Mike's
re-election was a virtual certainty in my book. He was a shoo-in to win.
Anybody who survived the (political) tsunami of 2006 wasn't going to be in any
question."
Ferguson said he will complete his current term.
"I will energetically serve the balance of this my fourth term in the House.
I have long said that public service is an important and meaningful calling, and
I still deeply believe that it is."
Ferguson's decision comes on the heels of the surprise retirement announced 10
days ago by longtime incumbent Rep. Jim Saxton (R-3rd Dist.).
Wilson said he did not know who would enter the fray to replace Ferguson, but
"we've got a plethora of possibilities."
The 7th District includes parts of Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset and Union
counties.
Democratic Assemblywoman Linda Stender of Union County has already announced
plans to run for the seat. Stender lost narrowly to Ferguson last year,
taking 49 percent of the vote.
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