Perr resigns as chairman of the Burlington County Democrats

by: Jason Springer

Mon Aug 24, 2009 at 11:35:00 PM EDT

Responding to building pressure for him to resign as Chairman of the Burlington Democrats, Rick Perr tonight stepped down effective September 1:

Burlington County Democratic Chairman Rick Perr has resigned. In an e-mail sent at 10:09 PM to Alice Furia, the Vice Chair, Perr said simply: "I am resigning as Chairman of the Burlington County Democratic Committee effective 12:01 am on September 1, 2009." Furia will become Acting Chair.

The public calls began after this story in the Burlington County Times ran on Sunday:

Democratic Chairman Rick Perr and former committee treasurer Jeff Meyer previously had denied any involvement with the Medford-based New Frontier Committee, but numerous e-mails obtained by the Burlington County Times show the two corresponded with New Frontier's treasurer Jack Senechal on fundraising, campaign contributions and committee finances.

Meyer had already resigned and a county committee meeting was scheduled to select a new Treasurer this week. But following the article, a steady stream of releases came out throughout the day on Monday calling on Perr to go. Follow me below the fold for more.

Jason Springer :: Perr resigns as chairman of the Burlington County Democrats

The calls came from party leadersincluding Vice Chair Alice Furia and Freeholder Chris Brown:

"I was very sad and disappointed, but I agree with the Republicans' assessment of who's to blame, and it's two individuals: Rick Perr and Jeff Meyer, and it's time for Rick to resign."
Freeholder Chris Brown has also called on Perr to quit.
"If he doesn't resign, I think it would reflect negatively on what he's been saying as a chairman for the last two years about open and honest government, holding people accountable on their actions. He would pretty much commit himself to be a fraud in what he's purporting to stand for."

Assembly Candidates Brown and Sarcone issued a statement in addition to Assembly members Conaway and Conners calling on Perr to go. Their statements were echoed by Mayors across the County. First Evesham Mayor Brown pointed to the diversion of money from a local race where Democrats lost control:

"While Evesham was involved in an immensely important election back in May to determine which party would control our township's government, our county party chairman and treasurer were spending their time raising money for Hoboken. This is unacceptable.
"Burlington County's largest municipality was lost to the GOP because our county chairman was more concerned with gaining influence in North Jersey. That lack of commitment to our community and our county cannot be tolerated.

And the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Westampton didn't go any easier with their statement:

"We have sought to end the culture of corruption in Burlington County and that means addressing ethical lapses in our own party as well as being duly critical of the Republicans.
"In order to maintain our credibility as the party that will bring real change and ethical reform to Westampton and to Burlington County, we demand the county party chair immediately resign so that we can focus our efforts on this year's election and not this disappointing distraction."

Sources said that Labor also wanted Perr to go. Vice Chair Alice Furia will now apparently take over on September 1. We'll have see what happens after that.

Full Disclosure: I'm a county committee member and have worked with the party in the past.