[caption id="attachment_302" align="alignnone" width="800"] Gallagher[/caption]

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Somerset Republicans appear close to putting together their countywide ticket,

Veteran Freeholder Peter Palmer isn't running for reelection this year, and incumbent Freeholder Brian Levine needs a running mate.

A source on the chamber trip said Bernards Mayor Carol Bianchi - long thought to be the Republicans' countywide newcomer in 2017 - won't run.

Instead, Somerville Mayor Brian Gallagher appears poised to sub for Palmer. Somerville is a Democratic town, but Gallagher wins there.