Senator Dawn Addiego (D-8) swore in the new mayor of Lumberton under the eye of Sean Earlen, chair of the Burlington County Republican Party, whose party last year failed to hold onto a majority locally.

Ryan Tuno now has the title of mayor, having used the Dems’ 3-2 committee majority to replace Earlen.

Rue Ryan proved the differrence-maker in the 2019 general election, winning the local race to turn Lumberton’s governing body from R to D.

Going up against Republican incumbent Kristen Januseki, Democrat Ryan (a Gina LaPlaca protege) won – 21-10 – on provisional ballots.

Final vote count: Ryan 1517; Januseski 1508

From The Burlington County Times pre-election:

“Incumbent Republican Kristin Januseski hopes to retain her seat and Republican control by winning her second consecutive three-year term on Nov. 5.

“Democratic challenger Rue Ryan hopes to keep her party’s 2018 momentum rolling and flip control of the township committee for the first time in at least a decade by earning her first-ever seat on the committee.”

Also in attendance at this evening’s reorganization ceremony were U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-3) and Senator Troy Singleton (D-7).

Singleton swore in Ryan.

Up for reelection this year in a battleground district, and on the same day that a new Republican candidate entered the contest, Kim in his public remarks eagerly used the microcosm of Lumberton to draw a comparison to himself.

“I know the new committeewoman will take the same bipartisan approach that I do in Washington and work hard for constituents,” Kim told the crowd.