A police officer and a firefighter from Atlantic City will join a Hammonton blueberry farmer in seeking the Democratic Party's nomination for seats on the Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Fire Capt. Angelo DeMaio, police officer John Devlin and Sam Mento announced their candidacies Thursday on the steps of the Stillwater Building, the Northfield facility that houses the freeholder offices.
"As a career fireman, I have never had the luxury of sitting back and seeing what happens during a crisis," DeMaio said.
While Atlantic County Democrats will formally set their tickets Sundayduring their convention at the Vienna Inn in Galloway Township, DeMaio, Devlin and Mento likely will be their party's freeholder candidates. That would create the following matchups:
n DeMaio would face incumbent Republican Freeholder Frank Giordano of Hamilton Township for an at-large seat, which is contested countywide.
n Devlin, who also serves as a member of the Atlantic City Board of Education, would run against Republican businessman Frank Formica for the 2nd District seat being vacated by retiring Freeholder Thomas Russo. The seat represents Longport, Margate, Ventnor, Somers Point and parts of Atlantic City and Egg Harbor Township. n Mento would challenge fellow Hammonton resident James Curcio, a Republican and the freeholder board's current chairman, for the 5th District seat. That seat represents Buena Borough, Buena Vista Township, Corbin City, Egg Harbor City, Estell Manor, Folsom, Hammonton, Mullica Township, Weymouth Township and parts of Hamilton Township.
Curcio, Giordano and Formica likely will get their party's nod when the organization holds its convention March 31 at the Carriage House in Galloway Township.
Republicans hold a 6-3 majority on the freeholder board.
On Thursday, DeMaio, Devlin and Mento said their plan for "helping struggling Atlantic County families" includes:
n Tightening spending in Atlantic County's nearly $200 million budget.
n Promoting and making the region's economy more diverse by helping small businesses and attracting new industries.
n Using state and federal economic-stimulus funds to improve transportation systems so they can meet increasing residential and commercial demands.
"Atlantic County deserves leaders who will always be trying to make our county cleaner, safer, efficient and more affordable," DeMaio said.
"Capt. DeMaio, Sam Mento and I are committed to putting our energies into turning our current economic crisis into opportunity," Devlin said.
"I am proud to be part of this strong, energetic freeholder ticket," Mento said. "I believe we will provide a breath of fresh air for Atlantic County's hard-working residents."
Democrats still must decide their 2nd Legislative District Assembly candidates. The district represents most of Atlantic County.
Republicans likely will nominate incumbents Vince Polistina and John Amodeo for the two Assembly seats during their convention.
E-mail Thomas Barlas:
TBarlas@pressofac.com
