Democracy in Action in Sussex

by: Camille

Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 01:41:38 PM EDT

   Yesterday the front page of the New Jersey Herald in Sussex County carried the story of the outcome of Sunday's Sussex County Democratic Convention.

   The purpose of the convention was to choose the Democratic candidates that Sussex County Democrats would endorse in the 11th and 5th Congressional Districts -- the two districts currently held by Rodney Frelinghuysen and Scott Garrett.  The candidates in the 11th District were Harry Hagar, Ellen Greenburg, and Tom Wyka.  The candidates in the 5th District were myself and Rabbi Dennis Shulman.

   Unlike the convention held in Bergen County by the BCDO, this one was open to all registered Democrats in Sussex County and was advertised in the local     newspapers. Unlike the convention held in Bergen County by the BCDO, the Sussex County Credentials Committee checked the ID's of every Democrat who came to register and participate in the convention. Unlike the convention held in Bergen County by the BCDO, the candidates were nominated and given the opportunity to speak to the delegates and answer questions before the voting.

   Unlike the convention held in Bergen County by the BCDO, I did not have to appear before the Credentials Committee two days before the convention, not to     answer questions about my qualifications but to defend myself about why I had dared to run in 2006, and what about my loyalty to Joe Ferriero -- am I going to vote for him in 2008 to continue to be Chairman, and how dare I tell the BCDO that even if I don't win their convention I will continue to run and let the voters decide the issue on June 3?

   And finally, unlike the convention held in Bergen County by the BCDO, not one of the persons on the Sussex County Democratic Committee owed their position    to the Sussex County Chairwoman, Megan Ward.  Unlike what happened in Bergen County, when I asked people for their support, no one said to me, "What is Megan doing?  Is she supporting you?"  To this day, I don't know who if anyone Megan favored in this contest.  To my knowledge, she did not try to exert any influence over anyone's vote.  That is a tribute to her.

   When the votes from a packed room of active committee members and rank-and-file registered Democrats were tallied, as the Herald reported, the women won it.  The winners of the convention were Ellen Greenburg in the 11th District, and myself in the 5th District.  An overwhelming 77% of 5th District voters affirmed my candidacy with their votes.  After the vote, none of the committee members told Rabbi Shulman or Tom Wyka that they'd better step down and not run in June.

   It was refreshing and fun to finally participate in a democratic process with a fair fight.