Democrats Praise Close Win In Haddonfield Commissioner's Election

HADDONFIELD, NJ — The Camden County Democratic Party pointed to Colleen Bianco Bezich's election to an unexpired term on the Haddonfield Board of Commissioners as an example of their candidates' ability to win close races against Republicans and independents.

Bezich defeated Robert Marshall, who was appointed to fill the seat until the special election by the other commissioners on the board, along with Gregory Peltz and Kathryn Ralczyk. Bezich was the endorsed candidate of the Democratic Party. Read more here: Bezich Elected Haddonfield Commissioner, Unofficial Results Say

They also cited results in Bellmawr, Chesilhurst, Gloucester Township, Haddon Heights, Haddonfield, Lawnside, Pennsauken, Pine Hill, Stratford, Voorhees, Waterford, and Woodlynne.

“Tonight, Camden County Democrats once again proved that when good candidates run good campaigns, they win,” Camden County Democratic Committee Chairman Jim Beach said. “We are so proud of the candidates who won and glad Camden County Democrats were able to play a vital role in their campaigns, from training election day workers to helping get out the vote.”

Earlier this year, the party establishment was challenged by the Camden County Progressive Democrats in primaries throughout the county. It even pushed the party to establish a progressive caucus. Read more here: Facing Primary Challenge, Democrats Establish Progressive Caucus

The Camden County Democratic Party fended off the challenges in many towns, including Gloucester Township and Cherry Hill, as well as the county level seats it challenged for. However, it won county committee seats in Collingswood.

Bezich was also among the various women who had the party's backing in being elected to office in Tuesday night’s elections.

Others included Patti Harris, who was electedthe first female mayor of Barrington; and the elections of Shaneka Boucher, Marilyn Torres and Felisha Reyes-Morton to the majority on Camden City Council.

Susan Shin Angulo was elected the first Korean-American Mayor of Cherry Hill. Shin Angulo defeated Republican Nancy Feller O’Dowd in the race to succeed Chuck Cahn as Cherry Hill Mayor Tuesday night. Cahn chose not to run for re-election. Read more here: New Mayor Elected In Cherry Hill; Democrats Win Council Seats

They also cited Carmen Rodriguez’s re-election to the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Rodriguez was the first Latina ever elected to the board.

“The victories represent a continued commitment by Camden County Democrats to diversity,” the party said in a release. “In recent years, Democrats in Camden County also presided over the first female majority in county government in the state, nominated and elected the first Latina (Nilsa Cruz-Perez) in the history of the New Jersey Legislature and the first African-American woman (Dana Redd) to serve in the state Senate in the 5th Legislative District. We also nominated and elected the first Democratic Latina (Gabriela Mosquera) to serve in a predominantly suburban legislative district. We also elected the first African-American sheriff in Camden County (Arnold Cream, aka “Jersey Joe Walcott”) and the first female County Democratic Co-Chairwoman (Sandi Love).”

For decades the party regularly has hosted well-attended grassroots activism, local candidate, legislative and campaign staff, and campaign treasurer trainings on a wide range of topics including: GOTV, field, and vote-by-mail strategies; social media; earned media; compliance; fundraising; best practices/ethics trainings; messaging; opposition and self-research; candidate recruitment; campaign planning/budgeting; scheduling; debate and media prep; advance; coalition-building; among others.

“Camden County runs a year-round, 365-day political operation because of races like these, and because they keep us sharp for important for statewide and national offices,” Beach said. “We will build on these successes as we prepare to deliver a huge majority for the Democratic nominee for President of the United States, in the US Senate race, and for our members of Congress. We’ve had great success, but the best days are ahead, and we owe that to the hard work and commitment of the thousands of people who volunteer and work to get out the vote on election day.”