Cumberland County Democrats abruptly adjourned their convention tonight to endorse candidates for commissioner and county clerk after a chaotic debate over convention rules.
Instead, county candidates will be chosen in a March 21 convention that will also include candidates for U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives in the 2nd district.
“Despite an honest attempt from members of the ad hoc rules committee to create an open convention, our chair chose the same corrupt system we are tired of,” said Joeigh Perella, the Vineland Democratic vice chair and a candidate for county commissioner.
Five municipal chairs, two vice chairs, and former County Commissioner Donna Pearson sought to amend the party bylaws, but that move was ruled out of order.
“When the party next meets, we will introduce and pass changes to our bylaws so our conventions are finally open and fair,” said Commercial Democratic Municipal Chair LaRae Smith. Smith is one of six Democrats seeking party support for county commissioner.
Angela Bardoe, a Democrat from Vineland, said there was no effort, “overtly or otherwise for ‘party bosses’ to decide candidates without the full body voting in the selection.”
“Joeigh Perella helped to create the new rules and several of the members listed in your article are on the steering committee,” Bardoe said. “As a committee member and steering committee member, I can assure you that we all had this information prior to the Convention. As far as dissolving the steering committee, as it’s in the bylaws, the chair thought it best to revisit that after the election as we are under time constraints.”
Democrats Joseph Salerno, Carolyn Rush, and Tim Alexander are seeking party support in their bids to challenge Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis).
This story was updated on March 9 at 3:12 PM with comment from Bardoe.