Habitat flap – Sandy aid questions lead Stender not to run again

SCOTCH PLAINS (AP) — A Union County lawmaker will not seek re-election as questions mount over her husband's use of a charity involving a home damaged by Superstorm Sandy.

Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Union) on Thursday announced she would step down when her term ends in January. Her announcement came an hour after her running mate, Union County Democratic chairman Assemblyman Jerry Green, said he would not support her.

Stender said in a statement issues involving her family and a nonprofit group have become an insurmountable distraction.

The Democrat has been in office since 2002 and was recently hired for $90,000 a year by the Union County Improvement Authority.

Questions have been raised about Stender's husband using a nonprofit to demolish a Sandy-damaged home he owned in Manasquan.

NJ.com reported the state attorney general is investigating.

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