Republican Nominee Needs Petition Signatures

Paul Lund needs your signature.

The Hopelawn native won a competitive vote against two other candidates at the Middlesex County Republican Organization's convention at the Forge to run as the 19th District's candidate for state senate.

Lund has to get about 150 signatures on his nomination petition, which is due in Trenton by 4 pm Monday. He's looking for registered Republicans and unaffiliated voters to add their names to the petition in the next few days.

"There are people interested in getting involved in the reform movement started by Gov. Chris Christie," Lund said. "I can't wait for the race to begin."

A math, biology, and physics teacher at St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, Lund, 48, is a lifelong resident of the Hopelawn section of Woodbridge. He never imagined, he said, that he'd wind up still living in his parents' old house. But after they retired and wanted to move to Florida, they sold it to their son, and he's been happily living there with his wife of 21 years ever since.

Lund has run before for Woodbridge town council and Board of Education. "I didn't win, but I enjoyed the experience," he said.

Once his petitions are signed and delivered, Lund will face State Senator Joseph Vitale, a Democrat, in November.

Lund emphasized that while he repects Vitale and his office, he didn't "necessarily respect everything he's done."

"Vitale has been a fixture in Woodbridge forever. I'm a big believer that when you're entrenched, you may become less responsive to the needs of your constituents," Lund said. "I believe in the necessity of a healthy, two-party system, which is something we haven't had in Woodbridge for some time."

The two Republican assembly candidates for the district approved by the convention were Shane Robinson of Sayreville and Angel Leon of Perth Amboy. They will face Democrat assembly incumbents John Wisniewski and Craig Coughlin; the latter is employed as attorney for the township.

Any Republicans or unaffiliated voters interested in signing the petition can go to Vatra Beauty Supply at 580 Amboy Avenue between now and Sunday to sign, or call 732-636-1919.