Two slates of Democrats have filed to run for Cumberland County Commissioner, where two factions of the county Democratic organization are at war.
One slate includes former Sheriff Robert Austino and John Capizola; the other is made up of Joeigh Perella and La Rae Smith.
County Clerk Celeste Riley, the last surviving Democrat in county government, has no primary opponent.
The Democratic county chairman, Kevin McCann, is fending off a renegade group that held its own meeting on Thursday and voted—they claimed to have a quorum—to remove McCann. McCann’s meeting ended without voting to award their organization line to anyone.
Perella, the Vineland Democratic municipal vice chair, and Smith, the Commercial Township Democratic municipal chair, are among the leaders of the anti-McCann faction.
No bracketing letters have been filed. Both sides have until Thursday.
It’s still not clear which line the likely Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown), will opt to run on. There’s also uncertainty in the race to pick an opponent for Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis).
Republican incumbents Joseph Sileo and Antonio Romero are seeking re-election as county commissioners. Another county commissioner, Victoria Lods, is challenging Riley for county clerk.