In Morris County, the allies of Republican Freeholder Tom Mastrangelo are circulating petitions on his behalf toward a challenge of veteran state Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26) in the GOP Primary.

A source told InsiderNJ that Mastrangelo is studying the situation hard, and is looking at trying to persuade Essex County GOP Chairman Al Barlas to give him the line in the Essex portion of the district.

Those talks – and others – are continuing.

If Barlas budges and moves toward Mastrangelo, the freeholder would have to rescind his endorsement of Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno and switch over to Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R-16).

Essex last week awarded the line to the upstart assemblyman.

It is unlikely, however, that Barlas will buck Pennacchio for the challenger, a source said.

Ciattarelli and Guadagno are locked in a tough primary battle, but with Guadagno out front by far in key GOP counties, the assemblyman must try to cut into her line lead with opportunities in civil war torn Bergen and Morris.

Mastrangelo is potentially one of those opportunities right now as petitions for his senate bid make their way through the suburban district. A source told InsiderNJ that part of his argument is to get labor – irritated by Pennacchio’s vote against the Transportation Trust Fund fix – behind him.

The freeholder has another purpose in running: his longtime rivalry with fellow Freeholder John Cesaro, who is running in a four-way GOP Primary for assembly in the 26th District.