UPDATED: Stahl Ditches Dems, Announces Senate Bid

Sen. Samuel Thompson (NJ-12) said voters shouldn’t be concerned about Mayor David Stahl’s party switch, pointing out that many Republicans used to be Democrats, including himself and Ronald Reagan.

“I was a Democrat at one point in time,” he said. “I was born a Democrat, I was born in the south…I didn’t even meet a Republican until I moved up north.”

At a Tuesday morning press conference at the Colonial Diner, Stahl formally announced his intent to switch his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, and to run for state Senate.

Stahl would represent the 18th district and if elected, fill a seat left vacant by Sen. Barbara Buono, who is currently campaigning for the governor's seat against Gov. Chris Christie.

Thompson said that based on his track record in East Brunswick, Stahl will make an excellent candidate, and an excellent senator.

“How he has performed in his elected office shows that he adheres to Republican principles,” Thompson said. “He has done a tremendous job keeping a handle on property taxes, promoting economic grown in town and bringing jobs in.

“He has the total support of not only myself, but of party leaders and every Democrat in the state for that senate seat.”

Stahl was joined by a number of supporters, including mayors from Old Bridge and South River, Republican East Brunswick council members Camille Ferraro, Michael Hughes and James Wendell, Thompson and Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean.

Stahl said his bid for Senate is the beginning of a campaign to bring "bi-partisan reform" to Trenton.

He said the Democratic party at the county and state level  is was unconcerned with local residents, and is "all that's wrong in politics today."

Stahl said that his accomplishments in East Brunswick—which include pay freezes with local unions, a tax cut and a 40 percent reduction in storefront vacancies on the Route 18 corridor—are examples of ways he has worked for positive change, and that he is "Changing party affiliation (but) not changing principles."

These successes show what can be accomplished when party lines are crossed and officials from different parties work together, Stahl said.

Recently, Stahl also proposed a revaluation in East Brunswick.

Wendell, who serves as council president, said that he does not expect Stahl's switch to the Republican party to affect the way  the Township Council is run, as the whole group puts "Residents first, politics second," he said.

Wendell, Hughes and Ferraro are registered Republicans. Council members Denise Contrino and Nancy Pinkin, who is seeking an Assembly seat, are Democrats.

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All East Brunswick residents should support Stahl's bid for Senate, he said, as it will benefit the township to have direct representation.

"It's been a long time since East Brunswick has had someone to advocate for us on a higher level," Hughes said.

Stahl said that he intends to vote for Christie in the upcoming gubernatorial election. He has not spoken directly with Christie regarding his party change, but Christie's office issued a press statement praising Stahl's leadership.

"David has consistently shown himself to be a pragmatic reformer who has always displayed leadership and resolve as Mayor of East Brunswick, regardless of the party with which he was affiliated," Christie said, in the statement. "The stark contrast between Washington and New Jersey is that we have leaders here who actually get things done without regard for partisan politics, and I look forward to working with David, as Trenton is in need of more voices from bipartisan fiscal leaders as we continue the fight to move New Jersey forward."

East Brunswick Democratic Organization chair Edward Luster did not return a call seeking comment on Monday.

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