HarryHurley.com
BOB McDEVITT, JIM WHELAN
& RON RUFF ...
and, a "pinch" of Damon Tyner,
too.
What an odd political alliance
A very significant, but almost
stealth campaign is being waged
by Bob McDevitt for Atlantic
City Democratic Party Chairman.
It has more than a few people -
myself included - scratching our
heads.
As you know, I have always been
and remain a BIG
Bob McDevitt fan.
But, something about this all
seems very unnatural and even
forced to me. It almost has the
appearance that someone else is
behind it all. However, since
Bob is always his own man ...
I'll dismiss this thought.
Jim Whelan and Damon Tyner are
BIG TIME
behind the push for McDevitt.
Not so much with Tyner, who is a
great guy ... but, what an odd
alliance with Jim Whelan. Beyond
strange. We'll leave this point
at that.
Outgoing Atlantic County
Democratic Chairman Ron Ruff
also is working overtime on his
lats days to make himself a
player in the Atlantic City
Chairman's race.
Ruff even took the preposterous
stand, to call for a meeting for
tonight ... to be held at all
places, Local 54 Headquarters.
So, you can see that Ruff is
also in the blend that is the
Whelan, Tyner, McDevitt
political tea.
Ruff cited the fact that he
can't reach Scott Evans ... so
he needs to call a meeting. Nice
try Ron. No one's buying this
bunk.
McDevitt did an excellent job
placing a significant number of
candidates and helping to lead
them to victory in last
Tuesday's Democratic Primary in
Atlantic City. I just never
thought McDevitt did this
because he was seeking to
takeover the Atlantic City
Democratic Committee himself.
It just doesn't make sense to me
at any level that I can figure
out. And, since McDevitt has
kept his political cards very
quiet on this one ... I have no
additional insight available as
to why/what possessed him to
make this stealth run.
As it looks now ... McDevitt has
as many as 18 Democratic
Committee Members lining up
behind him. Some I have
interviewed over the past 48
hours dispute this number, and
think it's too high.
Steven Young and Marty Small
have a combined total of at
least 17 votes. These votes are
confirmed. But, can these two
get together and can the
supporters of both, settle on
one?
This leaves 18 voting members
left. If all vote tonight (52
Committee Members in all), The
Young/Small alliance would need
10. McDevitt would need 9 out of
18.
Get ready for the WILD CARD of
all WILD CARDS! The Callaways!
They won several Committee
seats, powered by absentee
ballots. Who do they dislike
less?
Can you believe it ... They
actually can decide who is the
next Atlantic City Democratic
Chairman, again!
The more things change ... the
more they stay the same!
It may all come down to Jim
Whelan and Ron Ruff, two people
not very popular (at all) in
Atlantic City. Afterall, they
gave no one in Atlantic City the
Regular Democrat party line this
past June 3rd. Also, Whelan
enthusiastically endorsed 3
Republicans in Ventnor just less
month. Not to mention ...
alright, we'll mention it ...
The outrageous Whelan state
legislation to try and take
financial control of Atlantic
City.
You would think on its face that
anyone caught being aligned with
Whelan, would be political road
kill in any local, Atlantic City
election. However, our history
is filled with occasions,
whereby people vote against
their own best interests.
Whelan and Ruff are pushing Pat
Darcy hard for Atlantic County
Chairman. This will also be
decided tonight. Darcy is facing
a serious challenge from Marc
Ginsburg ... who is the Chairman
of the Egg Harbor Township
Democrat Party.
Ginsburg has EHT and
Pleasantville locked up.
Ginsburg also looks very solid
in Atlantic City, except, expect
McDevitt-aligned candidates to
fully support Darcy. This lends
even more political fuel to the
concept that McDevitt is
the Whelan/Ruff candidate. This
may help Darcy ... but, hurt
McDevitt himself.
They are pushing with all of
their might for Bob McDevitt in
Atlantic City. Damon Tyner is
making phone calls, asking
people why are they challenging
McDevitt ... declaring that
McDevitt will be a great
Chairman and to let him have it.
I have no doubt whatsoever in
Bob's talents. He is a great
organizer and leader. He
possesses all of the skills sets
to be a great Chairman. Without
question!
The only problems:
His alliance with Whelan and
Ruff is troubling for too many
reasons to detail here and now.
Also, McDevitt never even joined
the Atlantic City Democratic
Club.
Finally, he's a life-long
Republican. The Atlantic City
Democrats may decide that they
want a real Democrat to lead
them, and, not a Democrat of
convenience.
All of this political
maneuvering tells you all that
you need to know about how
important these Committee seats
are. And, how hard people will
push for the Party Chairmen
positions.
One final disadvantage that
McDevitt faces going into
tonight. He sat on the sidelines
in the race for Mayor of
Atlantic City. It rubbed a lot
of people, including me, the
wrong way.
Because Bob is the type of guy
that you expect more from. I've
never seen him take a powder
like this. We're not talking
about 5 minutes that doesn't
count here. We're talking about
the leader of Atlantic City for
the next 14-19 months.
That matters.
Having said all of this ... I
give McDevitt an edge going into
tonight's vote. He has a lot of
political muscle behind him.
But, it's still far from over.
The phone lines will be burning
today in Atlantic City and
Atlantic County.
If you are a Committee Member,
you a strong commodity, today!
For one day only, people are
going to make you feel like
you're a King or Queen.
