Bridgewater Councilman Michael Kirsh has submitted his intention to seek the endorsement of the Somerset County Republican Organization (SCRO) for County Commissioner at the February 17 screening convention.

Kirsh was elected to the Bridgewater Township Council in 2019 with 57% of the vote. He has the distinction of being elected and serving in two Somerset County municipalities. In 2005 while living in neighboring Green Brook, Kirsh was appointed to and then won election with then Mayor and future Somerset Freeholder Pat Walsh to the Township Committee, with 55% of the vote.

Somerset’s Board of County Commissioners is controlled by Democrats, 5-0.

“Somerset Republicans cannot afford an extended period ‘in the wilderness’ and must strike back with the strongest possible tickets over the next several years. The comeback starts right here and right now,” said Kirsh.

“County residents are counting on an immediate renaissance of the Republican Party. Many I have spoken with don’t fully realize the dramatic lurch to the left we have seen and that Somerset County is now exclusively controlled by the very same party that caused many to come here in the first place, abandoning Democrat-dominated cities and counties.”

Kirsh has been Municipal Chair of the Bridgewater Republican Municipal Committee (BRMC) since 2018. The BRMC is the largest local organization within the SCRO. On January 25 the Jack Ciattarelli for Governor campaign announced the endorsement of Kirsh and all members of the Township Council, Mayor Matthew Moench, and the full BRMC Executive Board.

“I have spoken with nearly all the other Municipal Chairs over the last two weeks. There is great enthusiasm for my candidacy and the prospects for victory from Jack at the top of the ballot, through our various Legislative candidates, the County Commissioner ticket, and the critical local races. I have pledged that the Commissioner race will be vigorously contested across all 21 Somerset County municipalities.”