Jackson Township Mayor Michael Reina is now seeking the Assembly seat left vacant with the recent passing of longtime Assemblyman Ronald Dancer, TLS has confirmed.

Reina is now the 6th candidate seeking the party’s endorsement, which will take place at a special convention in Freehold on August 11th.

If he were to win the seat, Reina, who is up for re-election this year, will have to give up his mayoral post due to New Jersey’s ban on elected politicians holding two elected positions, which has been in effect since 2007.

And if Reina were to step down, then he would be replaced by Jackson Township Council Vice President Alex Sauickie – who is seeking the Assembly seat as well.

In addition to Reina and Sauickie, a third Jackson politician is also looking to win the endorsement – former Councilman Scott Martin.

Martin served for three terms on the township council before losing his seat in 2018.

Jackson and Plumsted are the only two towns from Ocean County which are included in the 12th Legislative District, which contains mostly municipalities from Monmouth County and some from Burlington.

The New Jersey Globe first reported Reina’s and Martin’s interest in the seat.