Freeholder Vicari has withdrawn from the race for Governor.

In a statement to TLS, Vicari stated:

“As the longest serving Freeholder, now Commissioner, in the history of the state of New Jersey, I am withdrawing my name from the Ocean County Republican Screening Committee’s consideration and I will not seek the county’s support to run for governor in 2021.

I make this decision after careful and thoughtful discussions with my family. I also want to devote my full-time efforts to serving the residents of Ocean County, who overwhelmingly supported my re-election as Freeholder last November.

As I had announced, my reasons for entering the governor’s race was based entirely on helping our local residents. Ocean County’s political support is critical to any Republican candidate running for governor. By entering the race, I wanted to draw attention to the special needs and concerns of our citizens. Too often in the past I have seen candidates for statewide office come to Ocean County “for the votes.” I want to make it clear to anyone seeking our county’s support, that our “votes” come from our people. People with real and critical concerns. Senior citizens, veterans and young families that need help from Trenton. I hope my brief endeavor into state politics has focused attention on our needs here in Ocean County.

I appreciate the support of my colleagues on the Ocean County Board of Commissioners and the encouragement I have received from local mayors, other elected officials and friends. My success in more than 40 years of public service has been based in part on the tone and theme of my campaigns, which have always centered on facts and issues and never on personal attacks, unlike so many of the political contests we see today. Had I chosen to continue my quest for the governor’s office, I can assure everyone that this campaign would have taken the high road. As a life-long educator, I hope this can be a lesson to everyone, from either party, who decides to seek public office.

Finally, I want to announce that I will fully support the gubernatorial candidate that is endorsed by the Ocean County Republican Screening Committee on February 6.”