Assembly candidate slams Dems who ‘follow the lead of old white Italian men’

A Democratic candidate for State Assembly in the 35th district is slamming party leaders for moving too quickly to pick a replacement for Shavonda Sumter (D-Paterson), a seven-term lawmaker who announced yesterday that she won’t seek re-election.

Romi Herrera, a former Garfield councilman running on a slate headed by gubernatorial candidate Steve Fulop, said that even without county organization lines, potential candidates must play a game of “kissing the ring where outcomes are determined by back-room deals through a network of political operatives and party bosses.”

“I wouldn’t get in line and behave, and I call out the so-called party leaders, especially those who claim to represent the Latino community who follow the lead of old white Italian men and their consultants and not what their community needs,” said Herrera.  “Their silence is not forgotten as working families struggle to survive right under their noses, and many families live in fear from an illegal Trump raid.”

Hours after Sumter’s announcement, Passaic County Commissioner Orlando Cruz joined the race.  He is expected to have the support of the county chairman John Currie.

“Today is just another example of party bossism, by nominating someone to a vacancy in less than 24 hours, without any participation of the people and solely for the benefit of the hand-picked candidate and the party bosses they will take orders from,” Herrera said. “Each time this happens, democracy is lost.”

State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R-Montville) was offended by Herrera’s statement.

“As a somewhat old Italian politician, I strongly condemn the bigoted remarks of Democratic Assembly candidate Romi Herrera.  Such labels would be immediately repudiated if applied to any other minority group,” Pennacchio said.  “Mr. Herrera has demonstrated he does not have the temperament to serve in the State Legislature.  It is unfortunate the Democratic Party has met those remarks with a deafening silence. I call on his party to disavow Mr. Herrera and his comments.”