Citing Gov. Phil Murphy’s support of legislation to codify Roe v. Wade into state law, the lone Democrat on the Buena Vista Township Committee has switched parties and will seek re-election as a Republican.
Committeeman John Williams notified Democratic Municipal Chairman Quentin McClellan of his decision to become a Republican in a text message obtained by the New Jersey Globe.
“I have thought long and hard about this decision and I am not happy that the governor expanded abortion legislation,” said Williams, who served as mayor last year. “I am pro-life, and I am doing this to have a better shot to stay on council and for religious reasons.”
Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Michael Suleiman called Williams “a charlatan and a coward.”
“It amazes me that John would actually put in writing that he’s switching parties just so he can stay in elected office,” said Suleiman. “If a jury ever found John Williams guilty of being a smart person, they’d be convicting an innocent man.”
Williams, a retired teamster and Casino Control Commission inspector, told McClellan that he will run on a GOP ticket with Kurt Renart, a former township committeeman who did not seek re-election last year. Incumbent Steve Martinelli, an independent, has not yet announced if he will seek re-election.
Republicans won two seats in 2021, with Ellen Testa and Aaron Krenzer defeating Democrats Carl Favretto, Jr., a school board member, and Ronnise White, a former township committeewoman. Testa is the mother of State Sen. Michael Testa, Jr. (R-Vineland).
Democrats and Republicans each had two seats going into last year’s election, but the GOP picked up the seat of Democrat Teresa Kelly, who did not seek re-election after 30 years as a township committeewoman.
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