BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Mayor Michael Venezia has been elected as Bloomfield Democratic Party chairman.
“I’m excited about the challenge,” Venezia said in a telephone interview. “We’re going to make it a true committee. The former committee and chairman made unilateral decisions.”
Venezia succeeds Peter Strumolo who was chairman for 16 years.
The house-cleaning began when Strumolo denied Venezia a spot on the party line for the recent primary election. He gave his support to Councilman Joseph Lopez. But county leaders stepped in and took the party line away from Lopez and gave it to Venezia, who won the primary by a landslide.
County-backed committee candidates won 69 of 70 seats from the Bloomfield Democratic Party candidates, the only exception being Lopez who kept his committee seat.
“We’re going to have a true committee organization,” Venezia said. “We’re going to rewrite a good portion of the bylaws.”
Venezia said the first chair of the committee will be held by Louis Felix. The second chair went to Jennifer Gamble.
“Between my mayorship, a 14-month-old daughter, and pursuing a master’s degree, and the chairmanship, I’m going twenty four-seven, said Venezia.
The party chairmanship is a non-paying job.
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Very happy for my Mayor and also for Essex County. A proud moment!