MORRISTOWN - Tom Kean Jr. is calling some of the country chairs in his district and reportedly telling them he will be back in action in a week or two.

That news surfaced during an event Thursday evening held by Assemblywoman Aura Dunn to highlight "Women Who Lead." The event at the Morristown Club, which dates back to 1884, attracted many of the state's Republican leaders

When Carloe Santos, the Union County chair, was asked about Kean, he displayed his phone. It showed a 4:52 p.m. call from "Tom Kean."

Santos said the congressman sounded fine and gave the aforementioned timetable on his return to Congress.

A bit later, Joseph LaBarbera, the Sussex chair, and Laura Ali, the Morris chair, both also said that Kean called them on Thursday.

Ali was not able to take the call, but LaBarbera did.

He, too, said Kean sounded fne. LaBarbera said that out of respect for the congressman, he did not ask Kean why he's been away.

Kean has been absent from Washington since early March and his whereabouts have become the state's biggest political mystery. His Seventh District includes the counties of Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren.
An absent congressman is always an issue. More so in this case because CD-7 looms as the most competitive district in New Jersey.
In late April, Kean said he was dealing with an unspecified medical issue and that he would return to Congress "very soon."

He is unopposed in the June 2 primary. Four Democrats are running in the primary to challenge him.