On Wednesday, during the SCDC general committee meeting, two people announced their candidacy for New Jersey Assembly.

"I want to represent all 146,000 people in Sussex County and the rest of the 24th District," Michael Pirog of Mount Olive told Sussex County Democrats on Wednesday evening. He and Sean Clarkin, of Vernon, circulated petitions at the monthly meeting of the SCDC to get them on the ballot in this year’s state election.

On his campaign’s Facebook page, Pirog states: “We can do better, we can demand better of our politicians and ourselves, and it starts with our local politics.”

Clarkin spoke of his roots in Vernon, as a proud father of two sons who attended school in the Township, pays his mortgage like the rest of us, and is grateful for the Affordable Care Act, through which he and many others in Sussex County (including this writer) is afforded healthcare. Clarkin said he especially wants to represent those in the district—which covers all of Sussex County and parts of Morris and Warren—who are struggling.

Pirog and Clarkin, newcomers to running for elective office, hope to defeat incumbent Assembly member Parker Space and his running mate, former Sussex County freeholder and state labor commissioner Hal Wirths, for the seats now held by Space and Gail Phoebus, who has not stated an intent to run for reelection.