ATLANTIC CITY — Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford will not run for state Senate as an independent, he announced today. In a press release, Langford said he submitted his petitions for office “to take the necessary step to qualify as a candidate.” “After careful thought and deliberation, I have concluded that it would not be prudent to go forward...
Gov. Chris Christie greets Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford in this July 2010 file photo. Lorenzo today said he will not run for the state Senate as an independent.ATLANTIC CITY — Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford will not run for state Senate as an independent, he announced today.
In a press release, Langford said he submitted his petitions for office “to take the necessary step to qualify as a candidate.”
“After careful thought and deliberation, I have concluded that it would not be prudent to go forward at this time in pursuit of the 2nd district Senate seat, especially since it would be for an abbreviated term,” Langford said.
Langford had been mulling a run in the 2nd Legislative district, which hosts one of the most competitive races in the state this year between incumbent Sen. Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic), a former Atlantic City mayor, and Assemblyman Vince Polistina (R-Atlantic).
Langford’s potential candidacy was viewed as a problem for Whelan, since it risked drawing away votes in heavily Democratic Atlantic City. The two are known to dislike each other and have a history of political rivalry. In 2001, Langford unseated Whelan as mayor.
“I will not be making a formal endorsement. However, I will be voting for Vince Polistina," said Langford. "Moreover, should city residents ask my opinion, certainly I will oblige. Additionally, I intend to list the many instances that speak to Jim Whelan’s ineptness as mayor, as well as those occasions when he betrayed Atlantic City residents and sold us out.”
As of today, Langford’s name remains on the ballot, said Atlantic County Clerk Ed McGettigan. Langford has asked a state Superior Court judge to order his name off the ballot, and a hearing is scheduled on the matter for Friday morning.
“We want to know soon. We’re actually in the proofing process of the ballots. They know it’s a time sensitive issue and Friday is pushing it as far as we’re concerned,” said McGettigan.
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