Is 3rd District race for Senate in South Jersey a 2021 repeat?
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The 3rd Legislative District is a must-watch in political circles for the second election cycle in a row, especially the ticket-topping match between first-term Republican Sen. Edward Durr and Democrat John Burzichelli.
Votes cast in 2021 swung significantly away from Democratic incumbents and challengers in races in Cumberland, Salem and Gloucester counties, the three, diverse areas making up the 3rd District.
Republicans are counting on that trend holding. Democrats believe they understand what motivated those voters and can adapt their message.
Unhappy South Jersey voters made for election shock
Durr defeated longtime Democratic Sen. Stephen Sweeney by almost 2,220 votes in 2021 to make the jump from politically active truck driver to legislator.
The same voter disenchantment undid Burzichelli, ousted from a “safe” seat and leadership role in the General Assembly by more than 2,700 votes. Democratic Assemblyman Adam Taliaferro, his running mate, fared even worse in losing and chose not to run this year.
Burzichelli says those who study politics will say “in unison that that election had nothing to do with the personalities running.”
“It was 'people,’” he says. “It was 'others.' It was a very unpopular governor, in (Phil) Murphy. It was uncertainty out of Washington between the Biden people and the Trump people."
Durr is trying for a second term with a General Assembly team of first-term Assemblywoman Bethanne McCarthy-Patrick and newcomer Tom Tedesco.
The General Assembly slate running with Burzichelli is Gloucester County Board of Commissioners Deputy Director Heather Simmons and newcomer Dave Bailey Jr.
Burzichelli: Key Democrat for decades, from mayor to Sweeney wingman
Burzichelli, 67, is a lifetime Paulsboro resident and longtime businessman in the production end of the entertainment industry. He stepped into this race after Sweeney, his self-described best friend, declined a rematch.
“I consider myself a John Kennedy Democrat,” Burzichelli, calling himself a centrist.
"Certainly, you know, fiscally conservatively leaning. And socially progressive leaning.”
In the June primary election, he easily defeated a challenge from Mario De Santis.
Burzichelli says his 2021 slate easily was the better legislative team in that race.
“We had the president of the Senate,” he says. “We had myself as deputy speaker and chairman of Appropriations. Adam Taliaferro, I think he had chairman of (the) Agriculture committee. So, this year around, if you lay our credentials on the table, side by side, you will see that the level of qualifications on our side are significant with our group.”
Durr: Blue collar roots color views on government
Durr, unlike his opponent, did not respond to multiple requests for an interview for a story about the pending election. Durr, 60, was raised in Gloucester City but is a longtime Logan Township resident.
He is the son of a self-employed carpenter, a family background he calls a “blessing,” and the father of grown children. He has worked as a truck driver for 27 years.
Before his 2021 success, Durr was an unsuccessful candidate for the Assembly but one with little experience in the political world.
Durr is back after decisively winning a primary challenge in June against an unlikely opponent: first-term Assemblywoman Beth Sawyer, his 2021 running mate.
In the Senate, his assignments include membership on the Environment and Energy Committee and the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
One Durr-sponsored bill that became law was to establish a commission to study the effects of social media on adolescents. He is a co-sponsor of a bill to revoke pensions for corrupt officials and employees.
“I strive to return New Jersey to the state it was when I was a child,” Durr states on his campaign website.
3rd District race issues fraught with attack ads
Political mailers are flying in this race, most of them not originating with the candidate's own campaigns.
American Representative Majority is doing most of the mailers boosting Burzichelli. An "independent expenditure" committee, its attacks focus heavily on purported statements from Durr about "women's issues" and in particular abortion. Its officials have not responded to interview requests.
Fewer mailers are out on behalf of Durr and his slate. The New Jersey State Republican Committee has mailers linking Burzichelli to Murphy, to "soft-on-crime polices" on drunk driving and prisoner releases, and to illegal immigration support.
Durr lists a half-dozen priority issues: Property taxes; a need for limited government; tax reform; more attention to road maintenance; and opening New Jersey government to public scrutiny.
He advocates for pro-life abortion positions, but he also is sponsor of legislation that would not eliminate abortion but would ban it after 12 weeks.
Durr is a supporter of legislation to bolster the rights of parents in dealing with government schools, including expressing concern to public school administrations about “content and pedagogy.”
That legislation declares parents have a right to review class materials and opt out their child on moral or religious reasons. The bill also states “no school or school district shall interfere with a parent or guardian’s fundamental right” to direct their child’s education.
Burzichelli says his slate’s opponents are trying to “manufacture an issue with some our school districts.”
“And I can tell you, based on conversations, I’m not aware of a single district in the 3rd Legislative District that finds themselves in crisis on this issue,” Burzichelli says.
Burzichelli says there is no “parental rights” legislation presently that he would support. However, he says state and federal government should leave it to local districts to decide on programming and that parents should have “decision-making power.”
“This time around, I will tell you that women’s issues are forefront for us because of what we’re hearing,” Burzichelli says. “Affordability is always an issue in New Jersey and that comes in different categories."
He also strongly supports building offshore wind turbines, a point of difference from Durr.
Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.
Have a tip? Reach out at jsmith@thedailyjournal.com. Support local journalism with a subscription.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Can Ed Durr hold state senate post, or will Democrats claw back seat?
