Former Livingston Mayor Al Anthony wouldn’t have run for Congress had his pal Assemblyman John McKeon pulled the trigger on his own Democratic candidacy.

But with McKeon out now Anthony will take a harder look at the dimensions of CD11 and size up his own life in the context of what a (potentially bloody Democratic Primary) run for the right to run in the general against U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11) would mean for him and his family.

Anthony will take some time over the coming days to consider the landscape and come to his own final decision. But the absence now from the contest of McKeon improves the likelihood of his entrance into the contest, or at least strengthens the negotiating capacity of Essex County and County Executive Joe DiVincenzo, an Anthony ally, who’s up for reelection countywide next year.

For the moment, Passaic County Freeholder John Bartlett and retired Navy helicopter pilot Mikie Sherrill are declared Democratic candidates, while Woodland Park Mayor Keith Kazmark is hovering.