I have an update on the situation in Camden County. No not that situation. I am of course referring to the election that never seems to come: the CCGOP Chairman’s race.
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.Last time I updated Save Jerseyans like yourself on this mess, chairman candidate Stuart Alterman had settled his initial law with the CCGOP. A source informed me that he stipulated to a new date, which is tomorrow, so that the adequate notice provisions of Title 19 county committee laws would be satisfied. The vote was pushed back a week and everyone was happy. Or so we thought.
Yesterday Alterman filed yet another lawsuit against the CCGOP, this time the complaint came in around 85 pages and is contesting what members of county committee can and cannot vote in tomorrow’s election. As Jane Roh’s latest article clearly states, some of the member of my committee, five to be exact, are at the center of Alterman’s attack. However, people from the Alterman camp are also trying to certify additional members into their own committee’s who were appointed well after my appointments were made. As I told the Courier Post, I was attempting to ensure my town would have adequate representation in what has turned out to be a rather important process, while some other people are rather open about the fact that they are trying to sway the election.
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The complaint also addresses the bylaws of the CCGOP, which Alterman is claiming are not valid. He wants to institute the old bylaws, thus forcing a paper ballot vote rather than a voice roll call vote. I cannot see this being a huge deal for the CCGOP. If this is all that ends up holding the election up for another week, expect it to be stipulated to.
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Additionally, Alterman has now publicly claimed to have the endorsement of Assemblyman Domenick DiCicco. However, when the Assemblyman was reached for comment he said,
“No, absolutely not,” DiCicco said Tuesday. “That’s the fourth person I hear I’m endorsing.”“My view is you have an election to elect a chairman,” DiCicco said. “That’s where it should be decided; not in a smear campaign through the paper. I feel bad for Rick, that that’s the way he went out.”
That is good news, not because DiCicco should not want to support Alterman, that would be fine, but because it would be very inappropriate for a sitting Assemblyman to insert himself into the internal affairs of a Republican County Committee. It is well know that the policy of the Christie Administration and the NJGOP is to not involve themselves in these battles. This is a smart policy that ensures as little tension and bad blood between important entities within the party after the dust settles. Assemblyman DiCicco is doing the right thing by staying above the fray.
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I have been hearing from a number of county committee members that the constant delays in this process are starting to wear on their patience and schedules. Having to constantly rearrange your time to attend this meeting would annoy anyone. If Alterman wants to try and earn more support among the certified members (whoever they end up being) he may want to take his finger off of the lawsuit trigger. More on this tomorrow.
