Eight Democratic Candidates in the NJ-10 Special Election Rally Together to Demand Full Inclusion in Democratic Nominating Convention

Tuesday, July 16 — It was announced today that eight democratic candidates running in the special election for New Jersey’s Congressional District 10 (CD-10) have come together to demand that the leadership of the New Jersey State Democratic Committee and the Essex, Hudson, and Union County Democratic Committees extend the date of the Special Convention to select the Democratic Nominee for CD-10.  According to a letter filed by Mayor Matthew Moench of Bridegwater, the attorney representing all eight candidates, the three County Committees must set a new nominating convention date.  Several committee members and  candidates have not received proper notification of the nominating convention, contravening the committee bylaws and the state statute.

According to the candidates, Mayor Derek Armstead, Brittany Claybrooks, John Flora, Shana Melius, Sheila Montague, Darryl Godfrey, Eugene Mazo and Debra Salters, the process was not fairly implemented. It deliberately undermined attempts by all but the party-endorsed candidate to compete at the special convention, which is set to take place on July 18th at 6PM.  Committee members who hold jobs in municipal and county government or are otherwise civically engaged have reportedly experienced severe intimidation with pressure to capitulate to the party’s goal of electing its own endorsed candidate, who would fill the vacancy left by the late Congressman Donald Payne Jr.  Several Committee members attempted to rescind their nomination letters under the fear of the retaliatory actions from the Party Bosses.

The notice, the schedule, and the proposed rules appear to be an attempt to rig the system for the party’s preferred candidate. It is unclear why the endorsed candidate cannot comply with a fair and equitable nominating process.

What also concerned several of the candidates is that while canvassing for support from committee members, candidates learned that committee members were allegedly threatened, afraid for their careers and afraid to risk their social standing in the party and the community if they voted against the party-endorsed candidate.

According to Moench’s letter, the rules of the nominating convention currently set for this coming Thursday, July 18, set arbitrary deadlines, making it nearly impossible for most candidates to receive the requisite nominating support.  The party leadership failed to provide proper notice of the convention, and has failed to properly notify some committee members and candidates of their right to participate.  The rules that have been set for the convention are also not in accordance with the party bylaws. Today’s special election to fill the current vacant term for this session of Congress may not even be fully certified by the convention date.

It is unbecoming of our elected leaders to endorse and only include a candidate in the nominating convention who has a history of questionable campaign finance practices, is currently in litigation over their ballot eligibility, and who has excessive campaign support from the party machinery.

Eight candidates have come together to ensure that the State party corrects the processes leading up to the nominating convention by complying with the rules set out in N.J.S.A19:13-20 and with the established by-laws of the party.

“Transparency, good governance, ethics, and the rule of law are pillars of our society, and that is why we have united together to uphold rule of law in the democratic process.  The constituents of New Jersey CD-10 deserve the right to cast their votes, be duly notified of important meetings for their future representatives, and receive sufficient time for the democratic process to occur properly.  We demand that the State party leadership follow the rule of law and stop interfering with the voice of the people who live in New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District,” said the eight candidates.