March 6, 2010
Former Eagles lineman, Runyan, to tackle Congress run
By ERIK LARSEN
TOMS RIVER BUREAU
Jon Runyan, a former offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, was nominated this morning to run for Congress in the June 8 primary as a candidate representing the Regular Republican Organization of Ocean County.
The unanimous endorsement by acclamation came at the Ocean County Republican Convention, where delegates from the county's 33 municipalities had gathered to nominate their candidates for county and federal office.
Earlier during the day, Runyan, 36, of Mount Laurel was awarded the support of the Ocean GOP screening committee, which prompted Toms River businessman Joe Rullo to withdraw his name from consideration in an effort to avoid what would have resulted in a nominal floor fight against Runyan.
The only other candidate to be screened by the committee, who had not bowed out of the race during the past two weeks, was former Barnegat Township Committeeman John Novak. However, Novak was out of town and unable to attend the convention.
Calling him "a great new face in our Republican Party," Ocean County Freeholder Jack Kelly, who had won the endorsement of Ocean Republicans two years earlier in his unsuccessful bid for Congress, then nominated Runyan. Lacey Township Committeeman John C. Parker seconded the nomination. After, the convention delegates signaled their support with no opposition.
"Mr. Runyan, you are it," declared Ocean County Clerk Carl W. Block, who presided over the session which was convened in the ballroom of the Toms River Quality Inn.
Ocean County Republican Chairman George R. Gilmore then delivered a pep talk to the delegates, including senior members of the county organization, who were previously disappointed that the nomination was ceded to Burlington County's favorite son.
"We lost (former Rep.) Jim Saxton (R-N.J.), when he decided to retire and we weren't successful in replacing him with another Republican. We got (Rep.) John Adler (D-N.J.)," Gilmore said. "And that was partly because there was a split in the Republican organization between the various counties, something that we all pledged to try to avoid this time around."
Gilmore acknowledged he had his doubts about Runyan. He said before he met Runyan, he wondered whether the NFL player might be just "a dumb jock." But Gilmore explained he has since come to know Runyan as an intelligent man with heart, who desires to give something back to a country that has blessed him with a great life.
After the introduction, Runyan, who at 6 feet and 7 inches in height, towered over everyone else in the room as he arrived at the podium.
Why am I doing this, he asked in a Midwestern drawl.
"Two reasons: First of all, to get New Jersey's 3rd (District) back in our hands. Second of all, what this (Obama) administration is doing for this country is scary. And I want it the way it's supposed to be for my children and my grandchildren, to be able to thrive in this country," he said.
Runyan talked about how he was born and raised in Flint, Mich., where his father had worked in the auto industry for 30 years. He credited his father for instilling within him a strong work ethic.
Runyan said Adler had been part of a state Legislature for 16 years that helped sink New Jersey into the fiscal crisis it is in today and that he is complicit in a repeat of that behavior, this time in Washington.
"He's turning around and doing the same thing to this country, voting with (House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi over 90 percent of the time down there in Washington with these outrageous spending bills, trillion dollar stimulus package, and it's totally out of control and we have to put a stop to it now," Runyan said.