DELAYING COUNTY COMMITTEE ELECTIONS IS A COWARDLY ASSAULT ON DEMOCRACY
February 16, 2021, 7:21 pm | in
DELAYING COUNTY COMMITTEE ELECTIONS IS A COWARDLY ASSAULT ON DEMOCRACY
LD20 State Senate Candidate Jason Krychiw and State Assembly Candidates Aissa C. Heath and Ricky Castaneda have released the following statement:
Tonight, the Union County Democratic Committee voted to delay the Committee elections that were to take place this year until 2023. This plan was decided and endorsed unanimously weeks ago by the municipal chairs and county chairperson in yet another example of a behind-closed-door power grab.
They have used the COVID pandemic to delay the will of the people and undermine our most fundamental right to vote for who we want representing us. To use a health emergency as an excuse only further erodes the public trust in government. Last year, the Democratic State Committee recommended delaying Committee elections to better assess the emerging health threat and prepare for future elections, but only until 2021. Some counties had Committee elections last year anyway. Other counties that were scheduled to hold votes last year are conducting them as planned this year. Governor Murphy and the state have slowly begun reopening New Jersey, including raising indoor gathering capacities for political events. There is no reason, logistically or otherwise, that this election should have been delayed and the decision is contrary to everything else happening in the state regarding the pandemic.