DELAYING COUNTY COMMITTEE ELECTIONS IS A COWARDLY ASSAULT ON DEMOCRACY

LD20 State Senate Candidate Jason Krychiw and State Assembly Candidates Aissa C. Heath and Ricky Castaneda have released the following statement:

Tonight, the Union County Democratic Committee voted to delay the Committee elections that were to take place this year until 2023. This plan was decided and endorsed unanimously weeks ago by the municipal chairs and county chairperson in yet another example of a behind-closed-door power grab.

They have used the COVID pandemic to delay the will of the people and undermine our most fundamental right to vote for who we want representing us. To use a health emergency as an excuse only further erodes the public trust in government. Last year, the Democratic State Committee recommended delaying Committee elections to better assess the emerging health threat and prepare for future elections, but only until 2021. Some counties had Committee elections last year anyway. Other counties that were scheduled to hold votes last year are conducting them as planned this year. Governor Murphy and the state have slowly begun reopening New Jersey, including raising indoor gathering capacities for political events. There is no reason, logistically or otherwise, that this election should have been delayed and the decision is contrary to everything else happening in the state regarding the pandemic.

In 2019, Union County saw an unprecedented number of Committee candidates win off the county-endorsed line. Many of those victories were in the municipalities within LD20. It would appear this is less about health and safety and more about running from a progressive groundswell that has been racking up victories in recent years.

This pandemic has highlighted countless issues and inequities that we have been fighting against for years. The vote postponement only serves to continue the root causes of these problems. Many of us are afraid of losing our jobs, healthcare, or worse. The party bosses are afraid of losing their seats of power. There is real work to be done and allowing Union County to be turned into a political playground is only delaying the help people genuinely need. We strongly condemn this action and pledge to continue fighting for accountability, transparency, and progressive values.