As a lifelong Democrat, I fail to see the logic within the Democratic Party caucuses to reject qualified women candidates.
First, we have the Sayreville Democrats turning away Mary Novak, who screened for mayor. Mrs. Novak is a former Sayreville Borough Council member who also served as council president. She is an honest person with a great work ethic, and she would have been an outstanding mayor. I hope Mrs. Novak decides to run on the Independent line in November because the candidates who are running now do not have her devotion or integrity.
Second, and just as importantly, there is the sad situation in the 19th District, where four-term Assemblywoman Arline Friscia was denied county party support at its annual convention in Woodbridge. The Democratic Party county committee endorsed Perth Amboy Mayor Joe Vas instead. What a mistake. His personal business record and his political record are a sad commentary on his Assembly candidacy.
Hopefully, the good people of the district will see fit to re-elect Arline Friscia to her rightful place on the November ballot by pushing button A-2 in the June 3 primary. This is the only way to tell the county power brokers that the normal people are taking back their government for the common good of all the people in the 19th District. Power to the people.
Pete Kenny
South Amboy