Allen says she was snubbed by Burlco GOP

Not long ago, State Sen. Diane Allen thought she would be headed to St. Paul.

According to Allen (R-Burlington), she informed the leadership of the Burlington County Republicans that she would like to attend early this year.

“I was led to believe that would occur.  But in the end, the leadership of the Burlington County Republicans I guess went a different way because my name didn’t turn up on the ballot,” she said. “I called Bill Layton a week before (the filing deadline) and asked what I needed to do.  He said ‘Don’t worry about it, we’ll take care of it’ And indeed he did.”

Allen, a co-chair of New Jersey Women for McCain, was at first disappointed at not being able to go.  But she said things have worked out, and provided analysis for a television show.  She said she was happy that Freeholder Director Aubrey Fenton got to attend. 

“As it happens, I’m happy to talk up Sarah Palin from here, and I’m happy to do it from wherever I can,” she said. 

Layton, however, denied that he gave Allen the impression that she would be a delegate.

“I’m very proud of the delegation we brought this year. We have the highest tanking African-American official in the state of New Jersey with us, and this election for the delegates was different from previous regimes. It’s a new regime in Burlington County, and I selected people who have been working the grassroots for years and are just as deserving as others,” he said.  “We’re fortunate in Burlington County to have a number of very qualified people, but we can’t bring everybody.  I would hope that Diane Allen would understand that there are people in the grassroots that are just as deserving to come to the convention as she is.”