BRICK – A long-time assemblyman announced he will not seek re-election in 2019.
David Wolfe (R-10th) has been a member of the New Jersey Legislature since 1992. Prior to that, he held municipal office in Brick.
“My goal as an elected official always has been to help my constituency to have a better life for their families,” he said in a statement.
“I think it is time for me to be more involved in the lives of my family members, and I am looking forward to spending more time with them,” he said. “I would like to offer my sincerest gratitude to my wife, Carol, who has supported me every step of the way during my tenure as Assemblyman.
“It has been an honor to serve the district with strong leaders like Andy Ciesla, Ginny Haines, Jim Holzapfel, and Greg McGuckin. They were and always will be great teammates and friends. I would like to thank my staff, many of whom have been with me for nearly the entire ride,” he said.
Education was the first subject that he touched upon, in his role as Chairman of the Assembly Education Committee and Vice Chairman for the Joint Legislative Committee on the Public Schools. “I’ll never forget all of the classrooms I visited, or my ‘blueberry kids’ who learned about the legislative process by helping me to pass the law designating the state fruit.”
He will continue to serve until the end of his term, in January of 2020.
As several Republican spots turn over to Democrat, and other long-time Republicans (like 2nd District Rep Frank LoBiondo) also step down, Wolfe said his desire to leave is not about changing voting demographics, sure that he would still have the support of the community if he ran again.
His partners in the 10th District, Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblyman Greg McGuckin (both Republican), commended him and thanked him for his service.
“I have had the honor to serve alongside Dave since 1995 and during those years I have witnessed his passion and dedication to the people of our district and the State of New Jersey,” said Senator Holzapfel. “His public service cannot be measured by bills passed and votes cast but rather by his commitment to the real needs of the people of New Jersey. He is a great colleague who I am proud to call my friend and a man who represented nearly a quarter of a million people with dignity and integrity at all times.”
McGuckin echoed the senator’s statement, sharing some personal history.
“When I first joined the Assembly, Dave mentored me and assisted me during my first few years in Trenton,” said Assemblyman McGuckin. “Many people don’t know that my relationship with Dave goes back a generation when he supported my father for Mayor of Brick Township in the late 1960s. That is something that me, nor my family, will never forget. Dave will be missed not only by myself, Jim and our legislative staff but most importantly he will be missed by the residents of the 10th Legislative District.”
