Conaway's bid for Democratic Chairman is tied to possible special election for Allen's Senate seat

By Wally Edge | November 19th, 2009 - 3:00pm
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The decision of Assemblyman Herbert Conaway (D-Delanco) to run for Burlington County Democratic Chairman could complicate a 2010 special election for State Senator if Diane Allen (R-Edgewater Park) were to leave the Legislature.  Allen is battling an aggressive form of cancer and recently had surgery.  She has a tough road ahead. 

If Allen were to resign, the Republican County Committee from the seventh district towns in Burlington and Camden counties would hold a special election convention to name a new Senator.  There has been speculation that Rev. Aubrey Fenton, a minister and former Burlington County Freeholder, could take the seat.  That would set up a November 2010 special election to fill the remaining fourteen months of Allen's term - an early referendum on Republican Christopher Christie's first months as Governor in a Democratic-leaning district Allen has won five times.  It would also be an early test for the new Senate President, Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford), who topped Richard Codey largely because of the size of the South Jersey Democratic delegation.  A special election could be enormously expensive Sweeney and Democratic leader George Norcross battle the new Republican governor for a valuable Senate seat.

The high profile State Senate race would also come as U.S. Rep. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill) campaigns for a second term; there is substantial overlap between the third congressional district and the seventh legislative district. 

Three names have been prominently mentioned on the Democratic side: Conaway, Assemblyman Jack Conners (D-Pennsauken), and Troy Singleton, a former Deputy Executive Director of the Assembly and now the Director of Policy and Planning for the New Jersey Regional Council of Carpenters.  Singleton, who took a leave of absence this year to run Loretta Weinberg's campaign for Lt. Governor, is a favorite of Camden County Democratic leaders who are not huge fans of Conaway.

A 2010 special election would provide Democratic Assemblymen with a uncommon opportunity to run for the Senate without risking their Assembly seats.

If Fenton were to go to the Senate, he would become the first African American in state history to serve in the upper house as a Republican.
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Premature

Submitted by Archie Bunker on November 19, 2009 - 3:33pm.

Diane Allen is fighting for her life and you're speculating on how Conaway and Sweeney will posture and an early test of our newly elected Governor.

all of the people mentioned in this article as well as the author need to get a life and hopefully it will be as fruitful as the one Diane Allen has led to date and which we all hope continues to make all this commentary moot!

Give us a break

Submitted by Iconoclast on November 19, 2009 - 8:24pm.

Give us a break with the speculation. Much too early to start planning for the Senate seat - and disrespectful to Diane Allen, regardless or your political party. Conaway and Conners have served the district and have legislative experience. Singleton is a campaign organizer with no real experience in elected office - - and he did not do real well in this last election, especially in getting out the vote in the 7th District towns where the Democratic turn out was critical.

I hope Conway Rots in Hell!

Submitted by pablos3 on November 19, 2009 - 11:47pm.

I hope he and the other pieces of chit that are trying to force Diane out get theirs! Diane aint going anywhere and loser Conway had his chance to run agaisnt her years ago but he pussied out cause he knew he didnt have a shot in hell to beat her.

God forbid any GOP were to start speculating if the tables were turned, it just shows to show how classless many are.

Diane has a long road ahead of her, but the seat is hers and belongs to the GOP!

Pablos3

Submitted by dcdem on November 20, 2009 - 12:34pm.

I know you did not mean it this way, but I think you need to make clear that the seat belongs to the people of the seventh legislative district. Not to Diane Allen or the GOP (or the Dems, even). My prayers and hopes are she beats this. But chemotherapy and radiation are a bear to handle. I know from watching my Mom battle lung cancer. It's not early or disrespectful to consider the possibility of a special election.

dcdem

Submitted by pablos3 on November 20, 2009 - 11:49pm.

I am sorry for what your mom went thru, but i know Conaway and he is IMHO a vulture.

The seat belongs to the people AND to the people who have elected How dare anyone start dictating to Diane what she can and cannot do; I know you dems are pissed that she has had that seat for years, but it is totally UP TO HER and not Conaway or anyone else.

For all intensive purporses it is HER SEAT and it is disgusting the way the dems have been foaming at the mouth,

But understand one thing, IF she decides to step down, a GOP will immediately fill that seat and it is up the the GOV whether or not to have a special election. Her seat is up in 2011 so I wouldnt count my chickens just yet.

Funny

Submitted by irishboy on November 22, 2009 - 3:17am.

Pablos hated Dennison throughout his campaign but he's been the only one who has been respectful among Dems. I know for a fact it isnt because he isn't interested, it is because he respects his old opponent. More folks should follow this way of behavior. I respect that.

I'm an older chap.I knew

Submitted by irishboy on November 22, 2009 - 3:45am.

I'm an older chap.

I knew the older Dennison.

I was introduced to the newer one through him and found him nice, smart and respectful. Still, not sure if he was his old man's kid.

Well, I know now. He is. Good boy. I used to vote to Diane Allen. For years. And her health is of my concern. But this kid is good. I sware. I know him. I can't say a word about these others. I actually think the rest of em are well. eh. But that's for another day. I promise.

No joke.

Don't worry... Dennison has

Submitted by fag_dennison on November 22, 2009 - 7:39am.

Don't worry... Dennison has been the only honorable one thoughout all of this. And I respect this as should you regardless of party affiliation. He has enough friends that he will win so f*** the others. Seriously. It is true. Ciao...

.

Submitted by fag_dennison on November 22, 2009 - 7:41am.

.

I do have

Submitted by fag_dennison on November 22, 2009 - 7:43am.

a worry now though that Dennison and others I believe in will back Conaway. Actually I cant understand what they should do better.

Better than Mister Camden County

Submitted by fag_dennison on November 22, 2009 - 7:45am.

Chris Fifis

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