Fitzpatrick enters race for Mazzeo Assembly seat

As expected, Atlantic County Commissioner Caren Fitzpatrick has announced that she will seek the Democratic nomination for State Assembly in the hugely competitive 2nd legislative district.

“I want to fight for Atlantic County, to make sure we get our fair share from state government. We need to address the inequitable school funding formulas that raise taxes on our middle-class families,” Fitzpatrick said.  “I ran for county government because women were excluded from having a voice at the table, now I’m running for State Assembly to bring that voice to the State House.”

The incumbent, Vince Mazzeo (D-Northfield), is giving up his Assembly seat to run for the open Senate seat.

Fitzpatrick, a two-term commissioner, will run with Assemblyman John Armato.  If she wins, she would be the first Atlantic County woman to serve in the legislature since Assemblywoman Delores Cooper (R-Atlantic City) retired in 1991.

“Many of these issues affect my family deeply. In 2014, my family endured the greatest tragedy, the loss of our son, Duncan, due to struggles related to opioid addiction and mental illness, she said. “I share this pain with so many others touched by this crisis, including my running mate John. We will work to turn our compassion into consequence, and take this opioid crisis head on.”

Mazzeo is expected to face Republican Vince Polistina (R-Egg Harbor Township), a former assemblyman.

Four Republicans are seeking the Assembly nomination: former Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian, Atlantic City Councilman Jesse O. Kurtz, Atlantic County Commissioner John Risley, and former Deputy Attorney General Claire Swift.

Guardian and Swift are running with Polistina’s support.  Guardian had initially entered the Senate race after Republican Chris Brown (R-Ventnor) announced that he would not seek re-election but backed down after a couple of days.

Fitzpatrick, the top vote-getter in the four-candidate field for county commissioner last November, is the director of finance for Meet AC, an economic development agency.