Several factors make the all Democratic Gloucester County freeholder board a ripe target for the state GOP, but Gloucester County Republican Chairman Bill Fey says he wants his party to “stand on its own two feet.”
“We have to be able to do it ourselves. We have to prove to the rest of the state that we’re a viable organization,” said Fey. “That’s the direction that I want to take the party. I don’t want to say independent, but we want to stand on our own two feet and not have to look for charity.”
Although Gloucester County has not elected a Republican to the freeholder board since 1995, some signs point to a potentially competitive race there.
Last year, Republican Gov. Christopher Christie beat Democratic former Gov. Jon Corzine in Gloucester, while the two Democratic freeholder incumbents held on to their seats by relatively narrow margins. And a Republican, Domenick DiCicco, was elected to the assembly last year in District 4, which is made up of parts of Gloucester and Camden Counties.
Meanwhile, the two incumbent freeholders who were to face reelection this year – Joe Brigandi and Jean DuBois – have decided not to run again, indicating an anti-incumbent sentiment among the public.
But one factor stands out that could make Gloucester a particularly tempting target for state Republicans: the freeholder director is Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford), who in his other elected office as state senate president is the top Democrat in the state.
“It would certainly be enticing to go after Steve Sweeney in his back yard, and last year’s gubernatorial race showed that the Republicans can score a win there,” said Monmouth University Pollster Patrick Murray.
Sweeney said a serious Republican push would not surprise him.
“I would expect the Republicans to want to make an effort in Gloucester County,” said Sweeney. “But if anyone thinks we’re going to sit still and let them take it, they’re crazy.”
Sweeney predicted that the electoral environment in 2010 – although it’s shaping up to be favorable for Republicans nationally – will look a lot different from 2009, when Corzine was at the top of the ticket.
Christie, he argued, is already unable to follow through on many of the campaign pledges he made then.
“Last year it was Jon Corzine’s unpopularity and Christie’s message of, remember this, ‘I’m going to increase rebates, increase school funding, increase everything and I’m not going to raise taxes,’” said Sweeney.
But administration officials have floated a trial balloon about not restoring property rebates, as Christie promised on the campaign trail. Christie already announced plans to cut $475 million in school aid. And New Jersey Transit riders are about to see a major fare increase.
“I know the Governor’s positive today,” said Sweeney. “He’s a personable guy. I get along extremely well with him and like him. We’re working well together. But you’re starting to see people question things now. When people have to pay more to take a bus, that hurts them. I think it’s going to be opposite by election time. People are not going to be as enamored, and Republicans are not going to have the edge”
Sweeney, who plans to give up his freeholder seat by year’s end, noted the Democrats’ two-to-one registration advantage over Republicans in Gloucester, and said that his party has 15 interested candidates to replace Brigandi and DuBois and expects to have as many as 20 when all is said and done. He would not name the candidate who are screening.
Sweeney also said that he would not funnel money to the freeholder races from the Senate Leadership PAC, which he took control of upon ascending to the senate presidency.
“I’ve got a race in the 14th [District] and the resources have to go to the race that we’re going to compete in,” he said.
Republicans will have go through a primary contest before competing against whoever the Democrats field.
The Gloucester County GOP, wracked by a intra-party squabbles one year ago, in the lead-up to Fey’s takeover of the party from former chairwoman Loran Oglesby, has announced that the party will back Larry Wallace – who ran as the Republican nominee for freeholder in 2007 and unsuccessfully in the 2008 primary – and Vincent Nestore, a teacher and soccer coach at Delsea Regional High School.
But two primary candidates – Andy Savicky, a former GOP freeholder and sheriff candidate who ran unsuccessfully in the District 4 assembly primary last year, and former Paulsboro council candidate Patrick Schubert – are challenging them.
“It’s just a part of the process. And hopefully after this year we can probably put this to bed,” said Fey.
Fey, of course, would not turn down money or support from the state party. He and Republican State Chairman Jay Webber talk twice a week, but Webber has made no monetary commitments.
“Quite frankly I’m not going to go out and beg for money. It’s still early in the race. Let’s see what happens,” said Fey. “I think that regardless of Mr. Sweeney, who he is and how much money, all we have to do is let people know what’s happening at the county.”
