EGG HARBOR CITY - Gov. Jon S. Corzine was in town Sunday evening to personally accept his nomination for governor at the annual Atlantic County Democratic Convention. Atlantic County Democrats descended on the Vienna Inn en masse to see the governor and select their candidates for state Assembly and freeholder races. Their vehicles took up every inch of space in the restaurant parking lot, and spilled out onto the shoulder of Route 30.
"I've never seen this many people at an Atlantic County Democratic Convention before," Corzine commented during his brief speech midway through the evening. "You guys should really give yourselves a hand."
Corzine went on to ask for the convention's nomination and talk about his work to promote education and programs for senior citizens.
"I got into public life because I think you have a responsibility to give back," Corzine said. "I want to have a life that gives me confidence that we've made it better for our children and our future. I want your help. I need your help."
Atlantic City attorney Reginald S. Floyd and Northfield councilman Jimmy Martinez were named the Democratic candidates for the 2nd Legislative District Assembly seats, ending weeks of speculation as to who would step up to represent the party in that race. A February poll of Atlantic County voters asked residents what they thought of a ticket with Atlantic County Freeholder Alisa Cooper and former Atlantic County Prosecutor Jeffrey Blitz as the nominees for Assembly.
Cooper, who was present Sunday evening, took herself out of the running for a state Assembly seat Friday morning, but said later that day that she might still run.
Floyd, who also serves as pastor of Atlantic City's nondenominational Christ Worship Center Worldwide, had expressed interest in running for Assembly in the past.
"I'd like to take this opportunity to move forward and help the people," Floyd said. "My commitment is to try and make life better for all of the residents of Atlantic County."
Floyd and Martinez will likely run against incumbent Assemblymen Vince Polistina and John Amodeo, both R-Atlantic.
The party nominated Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam, D-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic as candidates for the 1st Legislative District. Ocean County attorneys Robert Rue and Rich Visotcky were nominated for the 9th Legislative District.
Convention delegates also approved Angelo DeMaio, John Devlin and Sam Mento as the party's candidates for the county Board of Chosen Freeholders.
DeMaio, a firefighter from Atlantic City, will face incumbent Republican Freeholder Frank Giordano, of Hamilton Township, for an at-large seat, which is contested countywide.
Devlin, an Atlantic City police officer, will 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.
Mento, a blueberry farmer from Hammonton, faces 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.
The Atlantic County Republicans will hold their convention March 31 at the Carriage House in Galloway Township.
E-mail Courtney McCann:
CMcCann@pressofac.com
