A Statement from Morris County Democratic Chair, Chip Robinson, on the Dover Democratic Primary

March 29^th, 2022 – Four years ago, a grassroots group of Dover residents approached me with serious concerns about the administration of James P. Dodd, the town’s longtime Democratic Mayor. From that grassroots team, I heard about blatant mismanagement, opposition to Democratic candidates, exclusion of new volunteers from the Dover Democratic Committee, and excessive outside influence on town government. I also heard, in no uncertain terms, about the mayor’s disdain for the town’s majority-Hispanic and Spanish-speaking population. That group included Edward Correa, who today is an Alderman for the town’s 3^rd Ward and the municipal Democratic Chair.

Over the course of two years, the Morris County Democratic Committee worked with the newly-formed “Dover First” group to remove Dodd and his allies from office. By 2019, Alderwoman Carolyn Blackman defeated Dodd, becoming the first female Black mayor of any municipality in Morris County history. The Board of Alderman became a diverse, Hispanic-majority legislative body that represented all of Dover’s communities. The success was a shining example of how grassroots movements can work with the Democratic Party to create real change in a community.

Four years later, I have once again been approached by a grassroots group of Dover residents. Many are the same individuals I sat with four years ago, some of whom were elected to office under the “Dover First” banner. Once again, I heard about blatant mismanagement, opposition to Democratic candidates, exclusion of new volunteers from the Dover Democratic Committee.  But these grievances were not launched at former Mayor Dodd – this was about Alderman Correa, who just four years ago sat with some of these same Dover First individuals to levy similar accusations against then-Mayor Dodd. This was most evident this past Fall when Edward Correa ran the campaign for an independent candidate in the 4th ward in Dover against the Democratic nominee, A.B. Santana, and even yelled at Democratic volunteers and staff who were passing out materials in the fourth ward for the entire Democratic ticket.

My role as Democratic County Chair is to support candidates for office who listen to their community and work in its best interest. Having a “D” next to one’s name is not enough, particularly in one of our county’s most Democratic towns. It has become obvious and troubling that Alderman Correa has lost the support of the movement he helped build and has lost the support of the community.

Karol Ruiz, Alderman Correa’s opponent in the Democratic primary, has served on the Dover Board of Education since 2017. She is a public defender. She is the former co-President of Wind of the Spirit, an immigrant advocacy group focused on social justice. And unlike Alderman Correa, whose advocates all seem to live outside of Dover, Ms. Ruiz has enthusiastic support from residents of Dover, including many of Alderman Correa’s former running mates who are now running on a slate with Ms. Ruiz.

The purpose of Dover First was to open up the town government to the people, and to 21st-century norms of conduct. It was not to trade one self-styled king for another. As vigorously as Alderman Correa fought against former Mayor Dodd, it has become clear that he has adopted Dodd’s leadership style. More importantly, many observers seem to have forgotten one fundamental fact: Carolyn Blackman is the Mayor of Dover, not Edward Correa.

The Morris County Democratic Committee will be supporting Karol Ruiz in this June’s primary, along with the entire “Dover Forward” slate, consisting of Alderwoman Sandra Wittner, Alderman Humberto Quinones, and former Alderman Marcos Tapia, all of whom had run with Correa’s support in the past and all who now oppose his reelection. It is critical for me to support the team who will get out the Democratic vote for Democrats up and down the ballot, and more importantly, to support those candidates who pledge through word and deed to work in service of the residents of Dover.

That is what Wittner, Quinones, Ruiz, and Tapia will do.

Chip Robinson

Chair, Morris County Democratic Committee