Alexander wins Ocean Democratic line in bid to oust Van Drew

Tim Alexander has won the Ocean County Democratic organization line, giving him a win in the first contest of the campaign for the chance to take om Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) in New Jersey’s 2nd district.

Alexander, a former prosecutor, defeated former Egg Harbor school board member Hector Tavarez by a vote of 36 to 8.   A third candidate, newcomer Carolyn Rush, received 5 votes.   That gave Alexander a solid 73.5% of the vote.

A fourth candidate, Rev. Curtis Green, received no votes in Ocean.

The major contest to pick a challenger for Van Drew comes next Sunday n Atlantic County, where the party will meet for their 47th annual convention to award the organization line.

The 2nd district also Cape May, Cumberland and Salem counties, and part of Gloucester.   More of Ocean County was added during the recent congressional redistricting process and the 2nd district no longer has any portions of Burlington or Camden.

Ocean County Democrats also tabled debate over a proposed by-laws amendment  that would permit vote-by-mail for the Democratic organization.

It’s outrageous that a group of dissident Democrats voted against even discussing vote by mail at a county committee meeting.,” said Democratic State Committeeman Ed Wolff.  “The amendment would have made it easier for people who have trouble getting to a physical meeting to vote.  This is not what we believe in as a party.”

But Marianne Clemente, the Barnegat Democratic Club President, said that some Democrats were “not willing to just vote for this amendment without adequate vetting and many committee members had valid questions.”

“As a result, the Chairman kept pushing back on us until a motion was made to table the discussion for a future date with follow-up containing air-tight procedures and controls before we would vote on such a major change in how we do business,” Clemente said.  “Leadership must understand that gone are the days of backdoor deals and ruling over political fiefdoms within our local Democratic organizations.”