Democratic congressional candidate Lisa Mandelblatt has won some valuable hometown endorsements, including Westfield Councilmembers Mike Dardia and Dawn Mackey and former Mayor Tom Jardim.
She also garnered the backing of Charles Kroloff, a nationally-known Rabbi from Westfield who rarely endorses in primary elections.
Mandelblatt has raised the most money in a large field of Democrats seeking to challenge five-term Rep. Leonard Lance (R-Clinton) in the fall – more than $640,000, according to her campaign manager, Don Shaw.
“We are building a deep reservoir of support that will sweep Lisa Mandelblatt to victory in June,” Shaw said.
The Mandelblatt campaign is also attracting support from community and business leaders who have not typically factored in a traditional Democratic primary. She has also scored the backing of some names from the past, like lawyer Larry Lerner, the Democratic congressional nominee against Bob Franks in 1996.
“I am proud to have the support of residents from every corner of the district who believe I have the spirit, the intellect and the moxie to defeat the Republican candidate in November,” Mandelblatt said. “Since launching my campaign last year, I have traveled to so many wonderful communities in the district and listened to the concerns of voters, which has only strengthened my resolve to represent the people of the Seventh District.”