MOUNT OLIVE - Missing from Congress is one thing; ignoring your stocks is apparently another.

Various published reports reveal that Rep. Thomas H. Kean Jr last week filed a Periodic Transition Report disclosing five stock trades he made in April. The value of the trades was between $1,001 and $15,000, according to the report, which the congressman digitally signed.

Kean has been absent from Congress since March 5.

Today, May 28, he had been scheduled to appear at a Morris County Chamber of Commerce event, but that was cancelled earlier this month.

Kean spoke to county Republican leaders last Thursday, reportedly saying he will be back in action soon. He has given no reason for his absence, other than it being a medical issue.

Kean's disappearance brings even more attention to Tuesday's Democratic primary in CD-7, which covers at least parts of Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties.

Four candidates are seeking the party's nod - Brian Varela, Tina Shah, Rebecca Bennett and Michael Roth.

Varela early voted on Thursday at township hall. As he approached the polling spot, his supporters held signs and applauded.

Yep, Voting is now a "thing."

Varela said:

"I'm really proud of the campaign we've built. When we started this race, very self-admittedly, we were an underdog. I think a lot of people wrote us off."

But now, he says he is one of the frontrunners.
As the campaign grinds to next Tuesday, Varela said, "I have not gone negative at all."

That can't be said for everyone.

Shah continues to attack Bennett, who polls put in the lead. A recent mailer says Bennett can not be trusted, because she originally registered as a Republican. She is a native of Texas.

Asked his thoughts, Varela said, "We have Republicans coming at us already. I think it's hard when we go after each other."

But he added that "all is fair" in politics and that some of what Shah has been saying is true.

Bennett did register as a Republican. She says she did so because at 18, she followed the lead of her parents.

But Varela said Shah is also bending the truth when she alleges Bennett voted for Donald Trump in 2016.

Bennett has created a section on his website to counteract Shah's charges.

On it, it says:

"Rebecca never voted for Donald Trump." It adds that Bennett became a Democrat in 2016 and donated to Hillary Clinton's campaign.