New Jersey's 28th Legislative District
Democrats try again to fill Assembly seat:
The Essex County Democratic Committee is holding a third special election for the 28th District Assembly seat after the committee's most recent election, held on Jan. 9 was called into question for not following bylaws.
The seat is open because the late Assemblyman Donald K. Tucker was elected posthumously and the committee’s first replacement, Evelyn Williams, was forced to step down in early January after a string of scandals.
Williams was arrested in December for shoplifting at an Irvington discount store and fired from her job with Essex County for collecting state pension checks while still working. She also was accused of stiffing a group of electioneers she hired to promote the Democratic ticket during the run-up to November's election.
On Jan. 9, the committee overwhelmingly selected Oadline Truitt, a 65-year-old Irvington school librarian and longtime district leader in Newark's South Ward, to fill the Assembly seat vacated by another longtime South Ward party leader, Evelyn Williams.
Truitt was selected just three days after Williams' resignation in a rush election designed to make sure a representative was in Trenton for the Assembly's Jan. 10 swearing-in ceremony. But her selection was almost immediately called into question, and Truitt has yet to be sworn in.
The committee will meet Thursday at Sacred Heart Church in Newark to "fill the vacancy arising in the 28th Legislative District," according to a letter sent last week by county Chairman Phillip Thigpen.
Truitt was selected just three days after Williams' resignation in a rush election designed to make sure a representative was in Trenton for the Assembly's Jan. 10 swearing-in ceremony. But her selection was almost immediately called into question, and Truitt has yet to be sworn in.
An examination of party bylaws by The Star-Ledger revealed that the Essex Democrats broke their own rules by giving members only three days' notice of the selection meeting, rather than the required seven. There also was a question of a quorum, since committee members from Bloomfield, Belleville and Newark's North Ward boycotted the meeting.
Essex party bylaws call for 35 percent attendance for a quorum, but the state statute governing in-party elections mandates that a majority of members be present before any action is taken.
It is unclear whether Thursday's election will produce a new candidate or simply solidify Truitt's selection.
New Jersey Government: New Jersey Assembly
The Essex County Democratic Committee is holding a third special election for the 28th District Assembly seat after the committee's most recent election, held on Jan. 9 was called into question for not following bylaws.
The seat is open because the late Assemblyman Donald K. Tucker was elected posthumously and the committee’s first replacement, Evelyn Williams, was forced to step down in early January after a string of scandals.
Williams was arrested in December for shoplifting at an Irvington discount store and fired from her job with Essex County for collecting state pension checks while still working. She also was accused of stiffing a group of electioneers she hired to promote the Democratic ticket during the run-up to November's election.
On Jan. 9, the committee overwhelmingly selected Oadline Truitt, a 65-year-old Irvington school librarian and longtime district leader in Newark's South Ward, to fill the Assembly seat vacated by another longtime South Ward party leader, Evelyn Williams.
Truitt was selected just three days after Williams' resignation in a rush election designed to make sure a representative was in Trenton for the Assembly's Jan. 10 swearing-in ceremony. But her selection was almost immediately called into question, and Truitt has yet to be sworn in.
The committee will meet Thursday at Sacred Heart Church in Newark to "fill the vacancy arising in the 28th Legislative District," according to a letter sent last week by county Chairman Phillip Thigpen.
Truitt was selected just three days after Williams' resignation in a rush election designed to make sure a representative was in Trenton for the Assembly's Jan. 10 swearing-in ceremony. But her selection was almost immediately called into question, and Truitt has yet to be sworn in.
An examination of party bylaws by The Star-Ledger revealed that the Essex Democrats broke their own rules by giving members only three days' notice of the selection meeting, rather than the required seven. There also was a question of a quorum, since committee members from Bloomfield, Belleville and Newark's North Ward boycotted the meeting.
Essex party bylaws call for 35 percent attendance for a quorum, but the state statute governing in-party elections mandates that a majority of members be present before any action is taken.
It is unclear whether Thursday's election will produce a new candidate or simply solidify Truitt's selection.
New Jersey Government: New Jersey Assembly
