| It's been a while since my last diary on this, but I wanted to give you all a better timeline of what has been happening with LD37.
April 11, during the day, Senator Weinberg and the LD37 team met with Union leaders in Bergen County to get their opinion of how to address the offer of withdrawal from the Wildes, Zisa, Wilson team. The majority view was that the LD37 incumbents should accept the offer and move to the BCDO line to avoid an expensive primary battle.
After the meeting with the Union leaders, the LD37 incumbents met with the Real Bergen Democrats candidates - 20 to 25 people at least, and discussed the course of action on the offer. It was decided that they should take the offer ONLY IF THE REAL BERGEN DEMOCRATS line stayed intact.
In order to accept the offer of withdrawal and the move to the BCDO line discussed at the press conference on Thursday April 12, several things had to happen:
1. Wildes, Zisa and Wilson had to withdraw as candidates (in writing), which had to be certified.
2. The BCDO Committee on Vacancies had to then certify the LD37 incumbents as the replacements on the BCDO line.
3. Their paperwork had to be submitted by the deadline.
Because the paperwork for this was submitted past the deadline by the BCDO lawyers, the Attorney General of NJ must now get involved to place the LD37 incumbents on the BCDO line.
After April 12, the BCDO Lawyers demanded that the Real Bergen Democrats freeholder candidates withdraw. That would place our whole Real Bergen Dems slate in jeopardy because you need county candidates to bracket together on one line.
The LD37 team was harassed, threatened with legal action, bullied, told that the BCDO would reinstate their withdrawn candidates, and generally given a hard time about the county level candidates. Those candidates offered to run although they knew we did not have the resources to support their run. They were chosen because they were excellent candidates who knew the possibility was great that they may lose to the BCDO county slate. But they agreed to take the chance so we could have a unified slate.
The BCDO then demanded that the LD37 team publicly endorse the BCDO county candidates. Which the LD37 team rejected.
Then last week, Kathleen Donovan - the County Clerk drew the lottery names for the placement on the ballot, after accepting all the paperwork to create the Real Bergen Democrats line filed and submitted by Real Bergen Democrats Campaign manager Brenda Allen. Ms. Donovan's lawyer, John Carbone then attempted to throw out the whole Real Bergen Dems slate by insisting that we did not officially state who our campaign manager is. After Ms. Donovan accepted form after form signed by - you guessed it - campaign manager Brenda Allen.
And so, not only is the BCDO in court to get the LD37 incumbents to switch columns, but the Real Bergen Dems are in court to stay together as Column 1 on the ballot.
That is why the crypticness of the last 15 days. It is all still up in the air. But at least now, the BCDO has backed off on requiring that the Real Bergen Dems line dissolve. The question is whether the AG will let the LD37 incumbents switch columns and if the judge will rule that the Real Bergen Dems will stay together.
At this writing any folks who want to help the Real Bergen Dems candidates - please visit the website and volunteer, we are continuing the campaign regardless. The candidates will still be identified on the ballot as Real Bergen Democrats regardless of where they end up. In fact the LD37 incumbents will be in Tenafly for the street fair on Saturday if you want to meet them and talk to them in person.
So, that's the story.
Loretta also wanted me to pass along her thanks to the Blue Jersey blogging community for your continued help, support and patience. |
