Barham not running. Maybe. The fun is about to start.

Freeholder Bill Barham told the Asbury Park Press he will not seek re-election, unless he changes his mind.

In light of the news, Chairman Adam Puharic has extended the deadline for candidates to submit letters of intent to run by two weeks. The deadline had been today. Serena DiMaso of Holmdel and John Curley of Red Bank have submitted letters. Freeholder Lillian Burry is running for re-election.

Assuming that Barham does not change his mind, this will be the fourth consecutive year that an incumbent Republican Freeholder was not a candidate in November. Ed Stominski was denied the party line by Chairman Bill Dowd in 2005 and lost in the primary to Rob Clifton. Ted Narozanik chose not to run rather than submit to Chairman Fred Nieman's screening committee in 2006. Andrew Lucas of Manalapan won a heated convention over the Mayor of Howell but lost to Democrat Barbara McMarrow. Last year, Puharic forced Anna Little off the ballot. Little turned down the Democratic nomination and declined to run in the Republican primary. Jeff Cantor of Marlboro won the nomination for Little's seat and lost to John D'Amico in the general election. Little was elected Mayor of Highlands.

Puharic praised Barham's service to the APP. Behind the scenes, Puharic has been looking for candidates and referring to Barham as a bonehead.

It is nice to agree with the Chairman now and then.

With Barham out of the race, a contested primary for his seat is less likely but still possible. Burry has made no secret of the fact that she would not run with Barham. She has considered Curley and Mel Hood of Neptune as possible running mates.

DiMaso has been closely aligned with Puharic, but broke with him recently over his policy of letting only the Mitt Romney campaign have access to county party resources in the Presidential primary race. DiMaso was the county coordinator of Women for Rudy.

While less likely, a contested primary is still very much a distinct possiblity. The US Senate campaign of "Jersey Joe" Pennachio is considering running a Freeholder slate on its line in the June primary. The Pennachio campaign is staffed by former Monmouth GOP Executive Director Dan Gallic and Chris Pardone, formerly of Senator Joe Kyrillos's state Senate campaign and the NJ for Romney campaign.

With Kyrillos now a possible US Senate candidate, the situation is very fluid. If Kyrillos does run, Puharic will very likely award him the Monmouth County line in the primary. Anne Estabrook, who has been considered the front runner for the US Senate nomination is a Monmouth County resident. Her campaign manager Mark Duffy has Monmouth County roots from running the Peters, Lucas and Little campaign in 2006. It would not surprise me to see Burry choose to run on Estabrook's line.