Split endorsements in NJ's 3rd Congressional District

In an unusual split, the Democratic Committees of the two South Jersey counties that represent the Third Congressional District have endorsed two different candidates who will compete for the nomination in the June 7 primary elections. The Burlington County Democratic Committee earlier this month endorsed Frederick LaVergne but then briefly considered last week holding a revote after Ocean County threw its support to Jim Keady, a former Asbury Park councilman.

The candidate who wins the contested primary is expected to face off against freshman Republican Congressman Tom MacArthur, who won his party's endorsement to seek reelection.

Joe Andl, chairman of the Burlington County Democratic Committee, said Tuesday that he had decided against holding a second vote. "Mr. Keady entered the race late after our selection process was complete," he said, referring to the March 3 vote taken by the Burlington committee.

Andl said last week that he was considering giving Keady an opportunity to make a presentation to the Burlington committee because Keady had not yet declared his candidacy when the March 3 session took place. Andl said that Ocean County Democratic Committee chairman Wyatt Earp had discussed the issue with him because Keady had won "overwhelming support" and because the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was backing Keady.

Keady, an activist, is known for his 2014 protest against Gov. Christie's handling of the Hurricane Sandy recovery effort, which led to Christie telling him to "sit down and shut up" at a Sandy anniversary event. The video of the encounter went viral.

Andl said that he also weighed whether to hold a revote because he had received requests from several municipal party chairs to hold a special meeting.

LaVergne, who twice ran for a seat in Congress as an Independent in the last two elections, had won 45 votes to win the endorsement against two other candidates who threw their hat in the ring on March 3. The others were Riverside businessman John Vrana and Ocean County attorney Michael Cooke. Former Burlington County Freeholder Joanne Schwartz' name was also floated and voted upon, Andl said. He declined to reveal the total number of ballots cast, but said the turnout that night was low.

Earp could not be reached for comment, but Marta Harrison, who works with the Ocean County Democratic Committee, said that both LaVergne and Keady were interviewed by a screening committee before a vote was taken at a mini-convention in Ocean on March 19. "At the mini-convention both candidates were given the opportunity to meet with the delegates, give a speech to the entire convention, and answer questions. . . . The delegates voted 104-7 to support Jim Keady," she said.

LaVergne, a loan officer from Delanco, previously ran under the banner of Democratic-Republican, the country's first political opposition party, which favors a strict interpretation of the Constitution and state's rights. He declined repeated requests for comment. But in Facebook postings, LaVergne called himself the "Anti-Corruption candidate" and said he favors bond reform, alternative energy strategies, and fixing government. He also said in a Facebook message that he has been registered as a Democrat since 1980.

Keady, who runs his family's bar, Lighthouse Tavern, in Waretown, Ocean County, said that he hears "the concerns every day from my customers about the need to fight for the middle class and small businesses; the need for good jobs, the need to get Sandy families home." He ran unsuccessfully for the Assembly last year.

As for the split endorsements, Keady said that he is moving forward with the support of "Ocean County Democrats and a growing number of Burlington County Democrats who are excited about my campaign," and that he plans to continue working to win votes and the nomination to run in the general election in November.

jhefler@phillynews.com

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