Politics & Government

Local Political Parties Land in Court Over Winters' Appointment to Council

The case is scheduled to be heard on Monday in state Superior Court in Camden.

Township Democrats would not seem to be hurt by a challenge for one seat with a 7-0 advantage on the council.

But a scrum between the township GOP and Democrats over the February appointment of Michelle Winters to the council has landed in state Superior Court in Camden.

The local GOP plan to be in court in Camden on Monday to argue Democrats took too long to fill the seat vacated by Michelle Gentek after she was sworn in as a Camden County freeholder on Jan. 4. From that point, they argue, local Democrats had 30 days to appoint a replacement.

Find out what's happening in Gloucester Townshipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

They cited state statue 40A:16-11 which states that the local political party of the departing municipal government member has 15 days to present a nominee to council and council has another 15 days to appoint that person.

If an appointment is not made in 30 days, the statue and two other related statues say the seat must remain vacant for the remainder of the term. In this case, that would be until the fall general election.

Find out what's happening in Gloucester Townshipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Winters' appointment was announced on Feb. 11 and approved on Feb. 25.

Council President Glen Bianchini said they were acting on advice from Solicitor David Carlemere, who assured them they could grant the township Democratic committee more time to present candidates.

"I guess they feel we didn't follow the letter of the law," Bianchini said this week. "As a result, they're going to contest it."

(Click on the PDF above to read the GOP's complaint.)

Ray Polidoro, the township GOP chairman, said their reason for challenging the appointment is simple.

"We're holding the elected officials to the same standards we live by," he said. "When we don't follow the law, there are consequences. There should be for them, too."

Polidoro said this was not an action against Winters, a nurse and political newcomer. Winters was not immediately available for comment.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here