Senator:

Scutari had described Thompson as being “a hard-working legislator who has demonstrated an ability to work in a bipartisan way in support of many shared New Jersey priorities.” view Commission 2017-present and the Fire Safety Commission 2018-present. run, bypassing a GOP primary challenge, but as of Feb. 27, he decided to change plans again and simply retire from public life.

Advisory Council on Elder Care 1998-2000. He also served on the N.J. Turnpike Authority from 1994 to 1997.

He explained his switch from GOP to Democrat to Jersey ShoreOnline.com, prior to that announcement saying, “I didn’t leave the Republican Party. The Republican leadership left me.” He noted that the 12th District encompasses four counties, Middlesex and sections of Monmouth, Ocean and Burlington.

“The Republican chairman of Middlesex County, Robert Bengivenga, told me I should not run and that I would die in office. He nor anyone else questioned my mental acuity or my physical health. There are 90-year-old people running marathons. Age is just a number,” the 87-year-old Senator said.

Bengivenga, a councilman from South Plainfield was 38 years old when he was elected Middlesex County Republican Chairman in June of 2021. He is the second-youngest GOP county chairman in New Jersey. This newspaper reached out to Bengivenga for comment through the Middlesex County Republican organization website but did not receive a response at press time.

“There are laws against age discrimination,” the Senator added. He said he’d be up to challenging the man who would have been his primary election opponent and now general election challenger, Old Bridge Mayor Owen Henry, to a 20-mile hike. He also said his announcement has prompted some of his 35,000 constituents to change their own party registration.

Thompson said he now wants to spend more time with his wife and that she needs him more. The announcement came after comments that he was a “full-time legislator and I work full time for those constituents. I don’t want anything to do with my former party leadership.”

Sen. Thompson stated his party change had been more to a strategy of winning re-election than about any broader ideological difference with his former party.

Senate President Nick Scutari had issued a statement officially welcoming Thompson to the New Jersey Senate Democratic Caucus. “After a multitude of extended meetings with Senator Sam Thompson, as well as members of the Senate Democratic Caucus, we want to extend a warm welcome to Senator Thompson as he joins our Majority Caucus.”

Thompson currently serves on the state Mandated Health Benefits Advisory Commission

2012-present, the state Commission on Capitol Budget and Planning 2014-present, the State Museum Board of Trustees 2014-present, the Public Safety Communications Commission 2016-present, Pretrial Services Program Re-

He was the Republican National Convention Delegate during the years of 2020, 2016, 2012, 2008, 2004, 2000, 1996, 1992 and 1988.

From 2014 to 2016 he served on the Task Force on Health Insurance Exchange Implementation Commission and from 1998 to 2002 served on the Continuing Care Advisory Council.

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Thompson was on the State Council for Adult Literacy Services 2000-2002 and the N.J.

He was the co-chair of the Governor’s Education Task Force in1994 and was with the N.J. Department of Health from1972 to 1994. From 1983 to 1990 he was on the U.S. Armed Forces Epidemiological Board.

The Senator’s military service includes being a Specialist Third Class in the U.S. Army from