Redd is reelected Camden mayor

Mayor Dana L. Redd claimed victory Tuesday in her bid for a second term, easily overcoming four underfunded and lesser-known challengers.

"Tomorrow I look forward to going back to work for Camden," Redd told an exuberant rally at the Victor Pub on the waterfront, thanking voters for giving her "four more years to finish what we started."

Huddled on the small stage with her were fellow Democrats State Sen. Donald Norcross; Assemblymen Gilbert "Whip" Wilson and Angel Fuentes; and Council members Marilyn Torres, Curtis Jenkins, and newcomer Arthur Barclay, all celebrating unofficial results showing them far ahead of their challengers.

"We have a wonderful family here, our Democratic partners. We are a family committed to improving the core values that improve the quality of life for residents," Redd said.

Chanting "Column 2," the crowd of several hundred waved American flags and took photos and video of the politicians.

With an unofficial tally from nearly three-fourths of the precincts, Redd led her nearest rival, independent Amir Khan, by a 3-1 ratio.

Also trailing were Republican Arnold Davis, a tax adviser and substitute teacher; and independents Brian Coleman, a city councilman, and East Camden-based pastor Clyde Cook.

Khan, a pastor and businessman, championed bringing new business and jobs as a key solution to the city's problems. Davis ran on a platform of strengthening education and a more transparent approach to government.

Redd, 45, a lifelong Camden resident and a former state senator, had the support of the Democratic Party, which dominates the city and Camden County.

During the campaign, she was both praised and criticized for replacing the beleaguered police department with a county-run force and for supporting a state takeover of the struggling schools.

At polling places Tuesday some voters called the challengers inexperienced and Redd's decision to replace the city police department with the Metro Division of the county force an improvement for public safety.

"Some people say more should have been done; you can always say that," said Felix Bowman, of Fairview, a security guard for the school district. "You look around this neighborhood and there are more boots on the ground, more kids in the parks. It's a safer place to live."

Kermeka Belcher, 41, moved back to Camden, her hometown, with her two children this year after 10 years living in Glassboro. She cast her first vote back in town for Redd at Yorkship Elementary. "Once I saw [the city] was coming back, I started feeling better. I like what she's done here," she said.

Davis congratulated Redd. "I'm still going to be a mainstay in the city," he said. "You'll see me working for the residents, and when it comes to their issues, I'm more than happy to work with the mayor to make the city a better place."

Reelected Council members Jenkins and Torres will be joined at City Hall by Barclay, who was picked by the party to run for the seat vacated by Councilwoman Deborah Person-Polk.

They beat GOP candidate Angel Cordero and a long list of independents.

Camden's municipal ballot question, on switching from a November partisan general election to a May nonpartisan election, appeared to fail, also according to unofficial results.

The measure, championed by the late activist Frank Fulbrook, would have made it easier for candidates without party backing to run for office in a city that primarily votes Democratic.

Fliers paid for by the county Democratic Committee had depicted the question as a push by "Republican extremists" and urged a no vote.

The city had nonpartisan elections from 1960 to 1992 and from 1996 to 2007. The most recent return to partisan elections came after City Council argued that by taking advantage of the November general election, the city would shift most of the cost of the vote to the county.