Jun Choi for Congress

Former Edison Mayor Jun Choi will challenge incumbent Republican Leonard Lance in next year's race for the 7th Congressional district, Choi announced today.

The first in the district to publicly announce his candidacy, Choi said the early start will give him an edge, especially financially.

"I'm running for Congress because we need to revitalize New Jersey and America's middle class," Choi said. "The success we've had in revitalizing Edison will serve as a blueprint for America -- more jobs, more fiscal discipline, and an innovative public education system to build the workforce of tomorrow. I'm honored to receive the support of so many community leaders and will work as hard as I can to bring a better future for New Jersey in the 21st Century."

Considered a political outsider with a background in engineering and education when elected to one term as Edison's mayor, Choi had a 55-percent approval rating bolstered by fiscal responsibility over a $140 million budget in the state's fifth largest municipality, creating new jobs at the height of unemployment, advocating for the middle class, and building a public safety center and the Edison Town Square shopping and entertainment center.

But the township's "hyper-partisan" political powers did not support his re-election in 2009, he said, because they wanted one of their insiders to be mayor. As a result, he lost the nomination to Mayor Antonia Ricigliano, who had been a councilwoman for eight years.

As a Congressional candidate, Choi has the support of several powerful Democrats, including New Jersey Democratic Party Chair John Wisniewski, State Sen. Robert Smith (D-17), Assemblyman Peter Barnes III (D-18), State Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-20), Somerset County Democratic Chairwoman Peg Schaffer, and Hunterdon County Democratic Chairwoman Lois Zarich.

"That image of me being an outsider makes me much better and more attractive as a Congressional candidate," Choi said. "The reasons I have so many statements of support from county and local leaders is that my image as an outsider, as a policy-driven reformer, is still the case. Therefore, those types of candidates are much more attractive in this environment."

Since leaving office in Edison, Choi has been adjunct professor at Rutgers University's Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and visiting associate at the university's Eagleton Institute of Politics.

Before serving Edison, he had been executive director of the Student Achievement Task Force of the state Department of Education and a management and technology consultant. He has a bachelor's of science in aerospace engineering from MIT and a master's degree in public policy and administration from Columbia University.

"I'm proud to endorse my friend and fellow Edison resident Jun Choi for his candidacy for Congress," Barnes said. "Jun's courage and leadership as mayor of my hometown earned my respect. His hard work, integrity and strong management improved services, while bringing fiscal discipline to Edison's large government. Jun has a clear vision for what New Jersey and America needs, and I'm enthusiastic about supporting him. He would be a fantastic member of Congress."

Wisniewski added, "I am happy to hear that Jun Choi will become a candidate for the House of Representatives against Leonard Lance. Jun Choi will be an extremely effective candidate in the 7th Congressional District."

A former state senator, Lance was elected to Congress in 2008 and re-elected last year. He is from Hunterdon County.

The 7th Congressional also includes parts of Somerset and Union counties.