D'Angelo prevails at special Democratic convention

The Democratic slate in the politically competitive 14th district will be Seema Singh for State Senate, and Linda Greenstein and Wayne D'Angelo for State Assembly

by MAX PIZARRO
PoliticsNJ.com

HAMILTON - Wayne D'Angelo bested Dan Benson in a Saturday morning Democratic Party match-up of prospective district 14 Assembly candidates in Hamilton Township.

With the victory, D'Angelo, an IBEW union leader and former Hamilton Township Council President, joins a Democratic Party district 14 Legislative ticket that includes attorney Seema Singh for State Senate, and veteran Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein.

"It's an honor and a privilege to stand before you," D'Angelo told party committee members after Mercer County Democratic Party Chairman Richard McClellan announced that D'Angelo had beaten Benson.

"Let's get campaigning," said D'Angelo.

Moments later he added that if elected, "We will continue the fight for working men and women, and we will make sure that state budgets aren't balanced on the backs of working people."

Greenstein and Singh both welcomed D'Angelo aboard.

"Wayne's going to be a great candidate," said Greenstein. "He brings to the ticket critical experience in business, labor - as the leader of a major union in the area, elected office, and as a member of the community who's always been out and about through his work with the Hibernians."

Speaking to a Wally Edge analysis on PoliticsNJ, which on the eve of today's run-off identified Benson as the academic representing progressive party interests, and D'Angelo as the old guard labor rep, Greenstein said, "I've always thought of our party as progressive and I've always thought the union movement was part of that. In the Democratic Party we will work hand in hand with union and newer, younger progressive movements."

Taking handshakes and kisses from well-wishers, including Hamilton Mayor Glen Gilmore, Singh was likewise upbeat.

"I think we have a strong ticket," said Singh, who completed her last day on the job yesterday as a state rate payer advocate to devote herself full-time to her Senate race.

"People think I'm nuts to run against (Assemblyman) Bill Baroni," Singh told the crowd. "But, what the heck, I'm going to give it my best shot. ...I feel I've already had a great deal of experience as a public advocate, and I want to take that experience to the state Senate to fight for people's rights."

Singh, Greenstein and D'Angelo will face a Republican district 14 ticket composed of Baroni, who is running for state Senate; Jamesburg Councilman Adam Bushman; and Hamilton Councilman and former Council President Tom Goodwin.

Goodwin beat D'Angelo in a race for Council in 2005.

Contacted by phone later Saturday, Baroni called D'Angelo "a strong candidate," and noted the two men go to the same church in Hamilton, and both belong to the Ancient Order of the Hibernians.

"We now have six candidates who are committed to running a strong campaign, and a clean and fair campaign, which I think is particularly important if we are to be a clean elections district in the 14th," Baroni said.

Goodwin said, "I'm looking forward to the debates, and a clean camapaign."