Magazzu basks in big win, will step down as county chairman

Cumberland County Democratic Chairman and Freeholder Director Lou Magazzu said that he’s flattered that local Republicans made him an issue in their campaign, even though he wasn’t on the ballot.

Democrats not only took complete control of the freeholder board, but took over the county surrogate’s office and knocked off an incumbent Republican sheriff.  Altogether, they went five for five.  Now, the only county-wide Republican elected official left is County Clerk Gloria Noto.

“I was delighted that the Republicans decided to make me the issue.  When you make somebody the issue, it either becomes a repudiation or a vindication. They made that bet and they bet wrong,” said Magazzu.  “But it certainly wasn’t just me. In fact, I was the least part of the equation.  What we had was good organization, good fundraising, one consistent message, great candidates and unbelievable support from labor.”

Feeling comfortable about his party’s domination of the county, Magazzu said he’s ready to step down as county chairman to devote more time to his job as Freeholder Director.  He’s starting to look for a replacement today.

“We’re going to have four new freeholders and it’s going to take a lot of time,” he said.  “If anyone is interested in being county chairman, they can call me.”

While county Democrats outspent their Republican opponents in this election, Magazzu said that the Republicans piggybacked on U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-Vineland) and the Republican State Committee’s advertising.  Although LoBiondo cruised to reelection against Cape May Councilman David Kurkowski, Magazzu said that the results in Cumberland didn’t bode well for him. 

“LoBiondo and the state Republican Party put more money in than I’ve ever seen. The state did eight mailers to I estimate a 30,000 household universe, because Democrats got them too. They also did heavy, heavy cable TV and radio. I estimate they spent $250,000 on their race,” he said.

Magazzu said that he commissioned a poll six weeks ago that showed a tight race, with Democrat Bob Austino trailing incumbent Sheriff Michael Barruzza by 10 points.  But once they started raising the issue of the constitutional officers’ pay raise, the landscape changed. 

“When we talked about the pay raise, it moved everything, almost to the point where it is now,” he said.