Assemblyman Herb Conaway Jr. (D-Delanco) wants to be the next chairman of the Burlington County Democratic Committee, setting up a potential contest to lead the troubled organization.
“What made me decide to run was that we have a need for a county party that functions. We have a lot of important races coming up in the near term, and quite frankly we’ve had under the old regime dysfunctional leadership that’s led to problems getting things done,” said Conaway in a phone interview from the League of Municipalities convention in Atlantic City.
Conaway, a medical doctor, practices internal medicine at Cooper University Hospital. He has served in the assembly since 1998, and ran unsuccessfully for Congress against former U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton (R-Mount Holly) in 2004.
Facing pressure from South Jersey Democrats, former Chairman Rick Perr resigned in August over his involvement in a PAC that raised money for former Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano, who was arrested on corruption charges in July. Since then, Alice Furia, long-time party activist and vice-chair, has headed up the party.
Furia will remain as chairwoman until June, when the county committee will elect a new leader.
Tags: Assemblyman, Burlington County, Cammarano, Chairmanship, Chairwoman, Corruption Charges, County Committee, County Democratic Committee, Delanco, Herb Conaway, Jersey Democrats, Jim Saxton, League Of Municipalities, Mount Holly, New Jersey Politics, Old Regime, Party Activist, Perr, Phone Interview, Time Party, Troubled Organization