Party politics can take a back seat to heritage and a country under attack.

Mikie Sherrill is set to have an April 27 fundraiser for her gubernatorial campaign at the Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey in Whippany.

That's no surprise. As a congresswoman, Sherrill has twice travelled to Ukraine and met with President Zelensky. She has supported military aid to Ukraine and has stayed in close contact with the state's Ukrainian-American community.

One of the six individuals on the invite is Roman Hirniak, who is a former Republican mayor of Randolph and a one time GOP primary candidate for Morris County commissioner, or at the time, freeholder,

Hirniak acknowledged that his involvement in the Sherrill fundraiser has prompted some comments from - using a traditional term - people "in his Rolodex."

One of those comments came our way. Why is a man who held and sought office as a Republican backing a Democratic candidate for governor in a competitive election?

Hirniak responded thusly:

"I view my Ukrainian heritage as sacrosanct, motivated largely by my parents having fled to the U.S. during World War II and finding refuge here in the freedoms that were never afforded to them under Soviet rule.  This country is the beacon of democracy and freedom in the world, a distinction that it alone holds.

We have been incredibly fortunate to have leaders in Washington like Congresswoman Sherrill, who has worked tirelessly since the beginning to ensure that the U.S. supports Ukraine in the face of Russia’s unprovoked war.  Beyond her international leadership, she has been incredibly responsive to my community, always visiting whenever invited and genuinely listening to our needs.  She has been an unwavering advocate for us.  Her value system, her decency and her commitment to leadership by example most closely identify with what I hold as near and dear to my heart.  I'm proud to support her candidacy for Governor of New Jersey."

As an aside, in less polarizing times, this may not have been much of an issue, but today, it raises eyebrows. Just the way it is.