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Ed Potosnak drops out of NJ-7 race

by: Rosi Efthim

Sun Jan 15, 2012 at 04:40:02 PM EST

By email today, Ed Potosnak informed supporters of his 2010 & 2012 runs for Congress against GOP incumbent Leonard Lance that he is ending his run for the seat this year. Potosnak had, after congressional redistricting, a clear shot at the Democratic nomination after former Edison mayor Jun Choi was redistricted out of the newly reconfigured 7th CD. Lance benefitted in the newly drawn district, gaining a district more favorable to the Republican. Lance beat Potosnak 59-41% in 2010.

Potosnak will be taking a job as Executive Director of New Jersey League of Conservation Voters. Before he ran for Congress, Potosnak was a high school chemistry teacher. In 2007, he wAs selected for the highly competitive Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship, which brought him to Washington, where he used his classroom experience to advise members of Congress on education policy. He received the Einstein fellowship twice, working in the DC office of Congressman Michael M. Honda, who is also a DNC Vice-Chair.

Below the fold, Potosnak's message to supporters:

Rosi Efthim :: Ed Potosnak drops out of NJ-7 race

Text of email today from Ed Potosnak to his campaign supporters:

Dear Supporter,

As a special supporter of mine I want you to be among the first to know about an important announcement regarding our campaign for Congress.

After careful consideration, I have decided to focus my talents, and build on my commitment to improving the environment, as Executive Director of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters. This means as of today I am officially ending my bid for the United States House of Representatives for 2012.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to lead this unique organization at a critical time and I am looking forward to being an integral part of shaping NJ's environmental policies to ensure our children have clean water and air as well as open space.

I am truly humbled and extremely grateful for your support and the outpouring of support from our community.

This leadership position with the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters will allow me to build on the grass roots energy of their diverse membership and promote non-partisan solutions to our environmental challenges in a time when politics, particularly national politics, are becoming increasingly polarized and hyper-partisan. To learn more about the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters visit NJLCV's Website.

I will be working everyday to safeguard our water, air, land and wildlife for future generations.

In gratitude,

Tags: league of conservation voters, Leonard Lance, NJ-7, cd7, Ed Potosnak, (All Tags)

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Ed Potosnak drops out of NJ-7 race | 12 comments

Good news for conservation folks (0.00 / 0)

The pro-environment movement needs lots of help. With Pringle's endorsement of Christie in 2009 (pretty ridiculous and often wonder what he feels like about that today!) and folks all over the place on things like "to log or not to log", they (we) need more coordination and some more respected leadership. Sorry to lose you in Congress, but I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you in the halls of the legislature.

by: Senator Loretta Weinberg @ Sun Jan 15, 2012 at 22:13:55 PM UTC

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Absolutely (0.00 / 0)

As I posted on the sidebar before seeing this post, new voices and fresh faces are important and can help to both invigorate an issue and provide different perspectives on ongoing issues.

Sadly, environmental issues (clean water, clean air, open space, cleaned and contained toxic dumps and brownfields renewal) are no longer topics of everyday (or near everyday) conversation in NJ.

In the redistricting threads, I voiced my concerns over the lack of a NJ shore-based congressional district and a big part of my concern over the move away from a shore-based distict over the last two redistrictings is this lack of visible conversation and action about the environment and land base in 21st century NJ.

Hopefully Ed will bring a powerful new voice to the conversation and help engage a larger mass of people in the conversation.

by: JackHarris @ Mon Jan 16, 2012 at 20:12:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Good luck, Ed (4.00 / 1)

This is a win for the citizens of New Jersey with such a smart, dedicated man leading NJLCV, while it's a loss for the people of CD-7. I worked on Ed's 2010 campaign, commuting from South Jersey to Woodbridge once a week because in Ed, I saw the type of person that would help raise the House to a new plateau. Ed went out of his way to express his appreciation to volunteers - a true gentleman.

Best of luck, Ed, in your new position. I'm sure we'll be reading about you in the pages of Blue Jersey, and I'm looking forward to that.

Blog: http://www.deciminyan.org

by: deciminyan @ Sun Jan 15, 2012 at 22:15:52 PM UTC

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Ed Potosnak (4.00 / 1)

One of the best guys I know, in or out of politics. Hate that he won't be our candidate in NJ-7 but the NJLCV made a good choice snagging him.

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.

by: Rosi Efthim @ Sun Jan 15, 2012 at 23:05:17 PM UTC

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Drat (0.00 / 0)

I like Ed a great deal and was honored to be on the same ticket in 2010.

Any idea who might run against Lance now? Obviously a tough road to hoe, but hopefully a good candidate will step up. I'm not Constitutionally eligible...

"We are the leaders we've been waiting for." - Paul Wellstone

by: Stephen Yellin @ Sun Jan 15, 2012 at 23:50:43 PM UTC

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Congratulations, Ed (0.00 / 0)

But we'll miss you around the 7th. I am honored to know you and proud to have supported and voted for you.

Good luck with the new job.

Linda

by: the pollster @ Mon Jan 16, 2012 at 00:26:42 AM UTC

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Happy, yet Sad (0.00 / 0)

Good for the NJ environmental movement; bad for NJ-07. And it would have been great to have a teacher in the Congress from NJ.

Best of luck, Ed. Now, who's running?

http://jerseyjazzman.blogspot.com

by: Jersey Jazzman @ Mon Jan 16, 2012 at 00:38:44 AM UTC

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Sad news (0.00 / 0)

I got to meet Ed in person for the first time when he visited my company to talk about bullying and NJ's anti-bullying law and was so impressed with him. It's a shame for New Jersey but he'll be doing something important for the state nonetheless.

by: Alex @ Mon Jan 16, 2012 at 00:46:35 AM UTC

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Draft Joe Cryan (0.00 / 0)

I am not sure if where he lives in Union is in the 7th, but if it is, he could be well-positioned to win in this otherwise unwinnable district if Ron Paul runs for President as a Libertarian and has stronger-than-usual congressional and senatorial candidates running with him.

This is why Democrats need to adopt a 435-district/50 state strategy in 2012. Even if I am wrong about the Libertarians, it is still a good idea, because it takes no voter for granted.

by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Mon Jan 16, 2012 at 06:13:11 AM UTC

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Draft Rosi (4.00 / 1)

Forget Joe Cryan, I think we need to draft Rosi to run in the 7th!

Jeffrey Doshna

by: Jeff Doshna @ Mon Jan 16, 2012 at 17:04:59 PM UTC

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Not a bad idea... (0.00 / 0)

In 2006 (albeit a midterm election) we drafted a former radio host in MN-03 (Western burbs of Minneapolis, sort of like a cross-between NJ-07 and NJ-12) to run against long-term incumbent Jim Ramstad in this R+1 district.

Fundraising was anemic, but we were able to pick-up statewide coverage and a little bit of national coverage and forced Ramstad to both doorknock and dump $1m into his campaign after October 15th.

We ran it as professionals and structured it like we could afford a real infrastructure and I think we forced the Republicans to spend more time then they would like in the district.

Amy Klobuchar cleaned up in the district, and If I remember correctly Mark Ritiche (the MN Sec of State) carried the district as well.

by: JackHarris @ Mon Jan 16, 2012 at 19:58:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Rosi... (0.00 / 0)

...already has a ton of things (Blue Jersey, DFA-NJ, and GSE to name just three of many) on her plate. I am a firm believer in the draft concept and Rosi would undoubtedly be a fantastic candidate. However, if there was one person in this state who I would not ask to do more than he/she is already doing, it is Rosi.

That said, if Joe Cryan cannot be convinced to run, I think that Joey Novick would be the next best choice. I am assuming that Marie Corfield is going to be a top contender for the special election for the LD16 Assembly seat. Otherwise, she would also be a great choice.

by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Tue Jan 17, 2012 at 00:05:32 AM UTC

[ Parent ]