Brick Democrats Municipal Committee Conflict Exposes Rift

BRICK, NJ — A rift between Democrats in Brick Township has surfaced amid a conflict over the township's Democratic Municipal Committee and its planned reorganization meeting on Monday evening.

Councilman Jim Fozman and Mayor John Ducey are running against each other for the chair of the municipal committee, which is scheduled to meet Monday at 5:30 p.m.

But Fozman has raised objections, both to the timing of the meeting and to Ducey running for chair of the municipal committee, which is the organization of Democrats within the township. It is a separate entity from the governing body.

Fozman, who was first elected to the Township Council in 2011 alongside Ducey as the Democrats took control by winning four seats from the Republicans, said he submitted his name challenging current Municipal Committee chair Heather deJong for the position as chair last week. Days later, he said, he learned that Ducey was running, too.

Fozman said the meeting initially was set for Sunday morning, which he had objected to because votes from the primary election last week — municipal committee representatives were chosen in all of 57 polling districts in the township, in addition to the primaries for the Senate and House congressional races — and the resuts were not expected to be certified until Monday. Some of those were write-in candidates, and Fozman said holding the meeting before those candidates could be notified was disenfranchising them.

Lynnette Iannarone, the Brick Township clerk, said the county was expected to certify the results today. She was unable to check the results because there were issues opening some of the canisters.

"I am concerned that the current party leadership wants to hold this election without due regard for or consideration of the new voices that have been elected as Committee members," Fozman said.

Fozman also objected to Ducey running for the chairmanship of the municipal committee on the basis of Ducey serving as mayor of the town.

”I am also concerned that in his effort to become chairman, Mayor Ducey will undo all of the hard work and goodwill that has been built up over the past four years. People of this town supported John because he was the leader for everyone. Now he wants to send an unmistakable signal that he wants to be the leader of the Democrats first, and the town second," Fozmn said. "I don’t want to see the mayor hand the Republicans a present and I am concerned that his misguided efforts to become chairman will do just that."

"There is no conflict for elected officials to be the municipal,county or state committee chair," Ducey said. "It is common practice around the state."

Photos via Brick Township Municipal Facebook page