The endorsement of David Richter over Kate Gibbs by Lee Schneider in her home county of Burlington demonstrates fracture in the BurlCo Republican Party organization that in this case inures to Richter’s advantage in a brutally intensifying primary.

“I give credit to Ocean County Republicans for having an open and transparent selection process unlike Burlington county where candidates are chosen behind closed doors,” Schneider said. “Our county committee members are told who we are supporting and we don’t get the opportunity to vote. “

Gibbs already has the formal backing of the Burlington Republican Committee.

But Richter’s snag last night of the support of the Ocean County Republican Committee’s support

opened the gates for chip-away support in BurlCo, none more telling and intriguing early than Schneider.

The sitting Deputy mayor of Hainesport and the municipal party chair, Schneider in losing last year countywide received more votes than her incumbent running mate Tiver and the sheriff candidate despite being below them on the ballot.

With Gibbs already possessing BurlCo, Richter needed Republican voter-rich Ocean County in order to be viable in the two-county congressional district currently occupied by U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-3). BurlCo Schneider’s endorsement on the heels of last night’s convention at the very least proves the political currency of Ocean (and the strength of self-financing), and shows how fast frontrunner status can turn underdog.

More from InsiderNJ columnist Fred Snowflack, who attended last night’s Ocean County Republican Convention:

If Richter was already discounting the sentiments of party insiders and looking a few months ahead, he was most pleasantly surprised.

The convention voted to endorse Richter over Gibbs by eight votes – 68 to 60, thereby giving him the coveted “county line” on the June primary ballot. This was a surprising outcome by just about any account.
And it was hard – at least publicly – to see why it happened.

Every county organization makes its own rules. In Ocean County, I learned, the candidates are not given a chance to address the voting members. So, there is no chance for a candidate to get votes, or change some minds, with inspired oratory. Or lose votes by saying something really stupid.

While that seemed a bit odd to me, party leaders explained that candidates have time to make their case with county committee members prior to the convention. So, after the perfunctory nomination of candidates from the floor, voting began.

Schneider’s formal endorsement from the Richter Campaign below:

Hainesport Deputy Mayor and Municipal Chairwoman

Lee Schneider Endorses David Richter for Congress

Hainesport, NJ – March 5, 2020 – David Richter, Republican candidate for Congress in New Jersey’s Third Congressional District, announced today that he has received the endorsement of Hainesport Township Deputy Mayor and Municipal Chairwoman Lee Schneider.  Schneider was also a 2019 Republican nominee to the Burlington County Board of Freeholders.

“The choice is clear in the Republican primary this year.  As a father of four daughters and a successful businessman, David Richter is the best candidate.  His resume speaks for itself and he is the only candidate that can beat Andy Kim in November,” said Schneider.

“As the first elected official in Burlington County to endorse my campaign for Congress, I am very appreciative of Lee’s support and look forward to earning even more support throughout the county,” said Richter.

Richter is the former CEO of global construction management firm Hill International.  During his time at the company, Hill grew from a struggling family business with less than 300 employees into a successful public company with more than 4,300 employees.  A lifelong Republican, Richter grew up in and has spent most of his life living and working in the Third District.  He earned two bachelor’s degrees and a law degree from Penn as well as master’s degrees from Oxford and Harvard.  Richter and his wife Michelle, who have been married for 20 years, are the parents of four daughters.

For more information on the David Richter for Congress campaign, please visit our website at www.Richter2020.com.