Bergen County Dems back three for 35th District

Bergen County Democratic chairman Lou Stellato says the party will support three Passaic County candidates selected last night to run for seats in the state Assembly and Senate in the newly-shaped 35th District.

A screening committee of the Passaic County Democratic Committee met last night and selected Assemblywoman Nellie Pou of North Haledon to run for state Senate, and two Paterson residents to run for state Assembly: Shavonda Sumter and Benjie Wimberly.

The screening committee of the Passaic County Democratic Committee was led by its chairman, John Currie, and was comprised of the vice chairman and five municipal leaders from Paterson, Prospect Park, North Haledon, and Haledon, the Passaic County towns that comprise the 35th District.

Stellato said there were “one or two” prospective candidates from Garfield who had wished to be considered, but never appeared before the Passaic County Democratic Committee. The Bergen County Democratic Committee plans to meet Sunday to decide which candidates will run on the party line in the primaries for seats in the state Legislature.  Although Bergen County was kept out of the process, Stellato said

Stellato said it was “for the good of the whole” that Bergen County not challenge the legitimacy of the selection process in the 35th. The chairman said he planned to meet with Pou, Sumter and Wimberly late Thursday afternoon. Stellato said he would also meet with the Garfield candidates who were passed over in the process and smooth over any hard feelings.

The state’s new political map, released this week, adds Garfield and Elmwood Park to the 35th District . The district historically has been dominated by the city of Paterson, a Democratic stronghold, and also includes the Passaic County municipalities of Haledon and North Haledon.

Candidates have until 4 p.m. on Monday to file petitions to run in the June 7 primary.