Senator Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic) released a statement today following what he called “ridiculous statements” made this morning on the Harry Hurley Show by Atlantic County Freeholder Ernest Coursey, who last night lost the Atlantic County Democratic Convention vote for State Assembly.

“I had a conversation with Sen. Whelan and I indicated to Sen. Whelan [that was Coursey’s intention to run for the

assembly],” the candidate told Hurley. The senator then told Coursey, he said, that “an African American heretofore has not been able to win” in LD2.

Coursey then pointed out that other African Americans who have run have run on tickets with Whelan.

The senator responded.

“This morning’s statement by Ernest Coursey is nothing more than fake news put out by a sore loser,” Whelan said. “All I can do is point to my record as a candidate and a public official. I have run for state office four times, three times with African-American running mates.

“Damon Tyner who ran with me twice became a Superior Court Judge and is now our Atlantic County Prosecutor, the first African-American to hold that position,” the senator added. “I fully supported him in all those endeavors. Likewise, I have long supported African-American candidates for countywide office, including our current Freeholder candidates, Thelma Witherspoon and Ashley Bennett, two African-American women.

“I have also supported African-Americans during my time as Atlantic City Mayor,” Whelan added. “I think Ernest forgets that I was the tie breaking vote that put him on Atlantic City Council back in 1992 — giving him the start to his political career. My record on this is more than clear. I am supporting Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo and John Armato because they are the Democratic Party’s strongest candidates, not Ernest Coursey who has accomplished very little in his long political career.”

Despite not receiving the support of the Atlantic County Democratic Party last night, Coursey told Hurley that he intends to remain in the primary as a candidate for the Assembly.