Andrew Unanue, a former chief operating officer at family-run Goya Foods Inc. courted last month to run for U.S. Senate by Republican Party leaders, dropped his bid for the nomination Friday morning.
Unanue's given reason for dropping out was "extensive business commitments along with new business opportunities," and he will be replaced on the ballot in June by former U.S. Rep. Richard A. Zimmer.
"After much thought and careful consideration, I have decided to end my candidacy for U.S. Senate," Unanue said in a statement. "I made the decision to enter the race after serious deliberation and I have no regrets. My decision to withdraw is based on an equally thorough deliberation.
"The opportunity to represent the people of New Jersey is a privilege that I accepted with great honor," he said.
Unanue is now back on a skiing trip with his family in Vail, Colo., where he launched his Senate campaign from on Easter Sunday and remained until he filed papers to run this past Monday.
Along with Zimmer, state Sen. Joseph Pennacchio, R-Morris, and Ramapo College professor Murray Sabrin are in the race to win the GOP nomination.
Pennacchio's campaign yesterday said it planned to file a complaint with the state Division of Elections challenging the validity of Unanue's candidacy and claiming he never intended to run but was merely a placeholder until another candidate was found.
Bergen County Republican Party chairman Rob Ortiz, a member of Unanue's "committee on vacancies" that chose Zimmer to take his ballot spot, said, "It's ludicrous to say that Andy filed for his candidacy in bad faith."
Michael Rispoli: mrispol@gannett.com
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