N.J. voters who don’t care for Booker or Lonegan may opt for ‘Ed the barber’

Democrat Cory Booker and Republican Steven Lonegan aren’t the only names on the ballot in Wednesday’s special U.S. Senate election in New Jersey.

One of the six other candidates with taglines under their names on the ballot is “Ed the Barber.”

The candidate, aka Ed Stackhouse of Hamilton, says people are tired of the two-party system and are looking for something else.

“People come in and they tell me the same thing time and time again,” said Stackhouse, who has been a barber for 25 years. “They’re tired of the two party system. They’re tired of choosing the lesser of two evils, and they’re looking for something a little different.”

He characterized himself as “a regular guy.”

The six candidates destined to be “also-rans” have a variety of motives for getting on the ballot, according to Peter Woolley of Fairleigh Dickinson University.

“In some cases it’s anger. In some cases it’s enthusiasm,” he said. “In other cases, it’s an unrealistic dream.”

If the candidates including the ones labeled “Alimony Reform Now,” “No Amnesty Period” or “Freedom of Choice” don’t interest you, Monmouth University political analyst Patrick Murray said there’s something else to consider.

“Mickey Mouse is still a valid option and you can write that in if you want to,” Murray said.

It’s not that difficult to get on the ballot.

Candidates, who must have been a U.S citizen for nine years, are required to live in New Jersey and get 800 people to sign a petition on their behalf.