Rick Merkt

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Richard A. "Rick" Merkt (born July 30, 1949) is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 1998, where he represents the 25th legislative district.^[1] He unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for Governor of New Jersey in 2009 rather than running for re-election to the Assembly.

Merkt has served as the Assembly's Parliamentarian since 2006. He serves in the Assembly on the Appropriations Committee, the Higher Education Committee and the Intergovernmental Relations Commission.^[1]

Merkt graduated with a B.A. in 1971 from Yale University in History, was awarded a J.D. in 1975 from the Fordham University School of Law and received an M.G.A. in 1987 from the University of Pennsylvania in Governmental Administration.^[1]

He was born in New York City and currently resides with his family in the Brookside section of Mendham Township, New Jersey. ^[2]

Contents 1 District 25 2 2009 Gubernatorial Campaign 3 References 4 External links

[edit] District 25

Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. The other representatives from the 25th District for the 2008-2009 Legislative Session are:

• Senator Anthony Bucco, and
• Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll

[edit] 2009 Gubernatorial Campaign

On October 22, 2008, Rick Merkt declared his candidacy for Republican nomination for Governor of New Jersey.^[3] However, Merkt was unable to meet the fundraising thresholds necessary to appear in the state-sponsored televised debates before the primary; thus, the primary was, in effect, a contest between former United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey Chris Christie and former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan. Merkt did appear along with his two rivals in two privately-sponsored radio debates before the primary, however. Ultimately, Merkt received only 2.74% of the vote in the primary; Christie received the gubernatorial nomination. Merkt will leave the Assembly in January 2010 when his current term expires.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Assemblyman Merkt's legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature
• New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms
  • 2007 2006 2005 2004
• Assembly Member Richard A. 'Rick' Merkt, Project Vote Smart
• New Jersey Voter Information Website 2003
• Rick Merkt for Governor

v • d • e Current members of the New Jersey General Assembly
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Democrat (48 seats) | Republican (32 seats, one of which is vacant as of November 2009)