In a show of support ahead of this weekend’s county conventions in Burlington and Atlantic, a sizable group of 31 South Jersey elected officials and Democratic party leaders today backed Newark Mayor Ras Baraka for governor.
Among Baraka’s supporters are Reva Foster, a local civil rights leader in Willingboro and head of the New Jersey Black Issues Convention; former Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford; Pleasantville Mayor Judy Ward; and five of the six Democrats on the Atlantic City council.
According to Ward, we need a governor who can unite people and win in every region of the state. That candidate is Ras Baraka. He stands out in the field because of his leadership in Newark, his capacity for motivation, and his strong dedication to working-class families. The state of South Jersey is honored to support him.
According to Langford, Ras advocates for working people on a daily basis and doesn’t just talk about them.
“He understands the struggles of everyday New Jerseyans, from advocating for labor unions to addressing issues of affordable housing and healthcare reform,” Langford added. Because he addresses the topics that matter most to those who make election decisions, he is the most electable Democrat in this contest.
Other members of Team Baraka include former Mayor Jesse Tweedle, former Councilman Tony Davenport, former school board president Jerome Page, former school board members Melanie Griffin, Julio Sanchez, and Elyse Sanchez (Pleasantville); former Councilwoman Susan Korngut, who is running for County Executive (Northfield) in 2019; and school board member Juanita Hyman (Egg Harbor Township). This is in addition to Council President Carla Thomas.
Along with Councilwoman Shlema Lawry and Deputy Mayor Berdeen Thomas, Logan Mayor Frank Logan, a longstanding opponent of the South Jersey Democratic apparatus, also spoke out in favor of Baraka.
According to Minor, Ras Baraka is the leader that New Jersey needs at the moment. He has already demonstrated his ability to lead as an executive. Through crisis after crisis, he has led our state’s largest city with an emphasis on equity, economic prosperity, and public safety. He is the most qualified candidate to guide New Jersey’s future due to his leadership and experience.
Tim Mancuso, Latoya Dunston, George Animal Crouch, Aaron Sporty Randolph, and Kaleem Shabazz are representatives of the Atlantic City Council. Two former members of the Board of Education, Nynell Langford and Kenia Nunez, as well as Torres Mayfield, a member of the Atlantic City school board, endorse Baraka.
Additional supporters of Baraka include former Cumberland County Commissioner Donna Pearson, independent Penns Grove Mayor LaDaena Londo, former Salem City Mayor Charles Washington and former Council President Karen Roots, Angela Cooper and Felix James of the Pine Hill school board, and former Winslow school board member Mark Benjamin.
Vic Carstarphen, the mayor of Camden, backed Baraka’s campaign early on.
