The Burlington County Central Labor Council endorsed Moorestown Councilwoman Nicole Gillespie for Assembly on Friday.
Gillespie is one of two candidates vying to succeed now-Rep. Herb Conaway Jr. (D-Delran), who gave up his seat in the Assembly to join the hallowed halls of Congress. Burlington County Democratic Committee members will meet at a special convention Saturday morning to select Conaway’s successor.
The winner will serve in the seat through the end of the year, and they have the chance to win a full term in June’s primary and November’s general election.
In the running are Gillespie, a recent mayor of Moorestown, and Balvir Singh, a Burlington County commissioner.
“Nicole has had an open door to labor when we contact her with a question or problem,” CLC President Adam Liebtag wrote in the group’s endorsement. “Not only does she take our concerns seriously, but she is proactive and engages with labor as a constituency group and ally. Our Central Labor Council urges the BCDC to appoint Nicole Gillespie to ensure the best representation for Burlington County at this critical time.”
The CLC praised Gillespie, a Navy veteran, for her work with the council and other labor groups.
“I am deeply honored to receive the support of the Central Labor Council,” Gillespie said in a release. “Unions are the backbone of our economy, and key to making the 7th Legislative District a safe and prosperous place to live, work, and raise a family. Burlington County is home to 150,000 union members and if I am lucky enough to get to serve in the Assembly I promise to represent their interests in Trenton each and every day.”
As a county official, Singh likely has a name-recognition advantage among the committee members. Though Gillespie was a popular mayor, Moorestown accounts for less than 10% of the district’s 422 Democratic committee members — she’ll have to extend beyond the lines of her town to win the seat.