Ron Ruff

Attorney Patrick Darcy won the election tonight to become Atlantic County's next Democratic chairman.

Darcy, who lives in Galloway Township, beat Egg Harbor Township municipal chairman Marc Ginsberg. He succeeds Ron Ruff, who is retiring from the post.

Darcy was tapped by state Sen. Jim Whelan and backed by Ruff.

Atlantic County’s minority party will elect a new chairman tonight.    

Democratic Chairman Ron Ruff will step down from the post tonight.  Running to replace him at tonight’s convention is Patrick Darcy, a lawyer from Galloway, and Marc Ginsberg, the Egg Harbor Township Municipal Chairman

Darcy appears to be the favorite, at least based on endorsements.  He’s was originally tapped for the position by state Sen. Jim Whelan, and has the support of Ruff. 

Atlantic County Democrats will switch their allegiance from Frank Lautenberg to Rob Andrews today and award him the organization line, according to Democratic sources.

The move does not come as a surprise, since Andrews was expected to roll up virtually all south Jersey from virtually the moment he entered the U.S. Senate primary. 

Democrats are having a tough time finding someone to challenge Rep. FrankLoBiondo
Although state Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Dennis) still hasn’t formally decided whether to challenge Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-Ventnor) in the Second Congressional District, most Democrats assume he’s not going to make a run for it.

And with fewer than three weeks remaining to file a petition, no candidates have put their names forward.

“I’m unaware of anyone that has surfaced, and I’m disappointed about that because I think now is as good a time as any to pose a really credible challenge to making the seat a Democratic seat,” said Atlantic County Democratic insider Damon Tyner, a former candidate for state Assembly.

Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Ron Ruff says that state Sen. Sonny McCullough is trying to take credit that he doesn’t deserve for property tax relief.

McCullough told the Atlantic City Press yesterday that he was “pleased that local and state officials have worked together to secure desperately needed, supplementary property-tax relief for three communities."

Joined by local religious and community leaders, Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Ronald Ruff says State Sen. Sonny McCullough should apologize for making a joke about a chinese couple and an African American baby.  McCullough told the joke to PoliticsNJ.com reporter Max Pizarro during an interview in Atlantic County last week.

ATLANTIC SHERIFF PRAISES CONVICTED FELON

GOP Chair Davis Calls on Dem Chair to Urge Defeat of Corzine Budget and Tax Increases

DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN TO GORMLEY: "MAKE MY DAY"
Ruff Challenges "Rent-a-Senator" to stand up for taxpayers for once and reject sales tax hike

(Linwood, NJ) – The new Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Ron Ruff issued the following statement in response to yesterday's Atlantic City press article in which State Senator William Gormley said he was considering voting for a budget that would increase the state sales:

RUFF TO CARELESS CONOVER: "SIGN THE AFFIDAVIT"
Careless Conover's True Lies Campaign in Full Swing

The Executive Director of the Atlantic County Democrats, Ron Ruff today stood outside the Legislative office of Assemblyman Kirk Conover and challenged Conover to set the record straight once and for all about his failure to pay property taxes and mortgage bills on time by signing an affidavit.