NEWARK – Former Livingston Mayor Al Anthony was the center of attention as the crowd spilled out of the sweltering Murphy-Oliver headquarters onto the sidewalk.

Among those nearby stood Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo – running on the 2018 ticket – and DiVincenzo’s chief of staff, Phil Alagia.

Anthony hasn’t yet decided whether he’s going to challenge U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11) next year, but he’s looking at it hard, he said.

“I’m definitely interested,” he told InsiderNJ.

Sources say he’s too close to Assemblyman John McKeon (D-27), who’s also sizing up a possible 2018 Frelinghuysen challenge, to run with McKeon also in the contest.

But Anthony gave every indication that if McKeon decides not to go, he’ll be at the starting gate.