Ailish Hambel said she is planning to retire before the primary in June
Ailish Hambel in a file photo. SPARTA -- The former chair of the Sussex County Republican Party is running for county freeholder.
Ailish Hambel, a safety education program assistant for NJ Transit, said she is planning to retire six days before the June 6 Republican primary.
Hambel, 65, was on the Sparta town council for about a decade starting in the mid-1990s, including two, one-year terms as mayor, but this is her first run for county office.
"It was never the right time for me. I'm going to be retiring. I couldn't just sit home," Hambel said on Thursday.
Hambel was hired by NJ Transit in 2012. Her salary in 2015 was $53,127, the most recent year for which information is available.
Freeholders in Sussex County are paid $23,956.
All five seats are held by Republicans.
Freeholder Phil Crabb, the lone incumbent up for re-election in 2017, did not immediately return a phone call on his plans.
Former county health official Herb Yardley has registered his Republican primary candidacy with the NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission.
The candidate filing deadline is April 3.
Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
