BERNARDSVILLE - On a cold day a year ago, a group of activists converged on the train station in this upscale town to "find" Tom Kean Jr.

All political protests are based on something other than pure politics, and this one focused on Kean's aversion to unscripted interactions with the public and press.

It is a continuing theme, and one that is likely to be repeated - and repeated - as Kean seeks reelection in CD-7.

As it was two years ago, the race in the district is the most competitive in the state. Six Democrats are vying for the party's nomination in the June primary.

With that in mind, the following release came our way:

"Join us at the place where it all started to celebrate one year of Finding Kean Fridays' actions. Our elusive Congressman Kean has yet to give us that town hall, but we're not giving up!
We chased him from Bernardsville to a private property in Lebanon, and we've persisted despite legal threats and harassment. We will not back down from letting our elected official know that he works for the people.
Bring your friends, signs and joy - and let's have a birthday party!"

The "birthday" bash is set for March 20 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.at the Bernardsville station.

Protesters gathered in Bernardsville because at the time Kean's office was just a block or so away. The custom was for the group to march to his office. Some would go inside to air their concerns.

But then, Kean relocated his main congressional office to a business park in Lebanon (Hunterdon County, not Beirut). That made access and the ability to protest more restricted.

The most relevant question here is what have these - and what will - these protests accomplish?

The district, which ranges over at least parts of Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties, leans Republican by about 20,000 voters.

All is not that simple, however.

Officials in Roxbury are fighting - and are about to file suit - in hopes of stopping an ICE facility in their Morris County town. A town council release a few weeks ago pointedly said that their "federal representative,"
- Kean - has not been a strong enough advocate for them.

As an aside, some may wonder why the feds want to put an ICE facility in a swing district Republicans are defending. Makes no sense.

Kean, by the way, has been talking on social media about his support for the "Big, Beautiful Bill," which he said is providing residents with a smaller tax bill and higher refunds.