Should Blee
Resign for the Good of his Party? Assemblyman Frank Blee suffered a stinging loss to Egg Harbor Township Mayor Sonny McCollough Tuesday night as the two vied to fill the now vacated seat of Senator Bill Gormley (NJ R-2). Blee has said he will not seek reelection next year. Blee was the heir apparent, hand selected by Gormley, to fill his shoes, but the Republican Party leadership has different plans for their future. If Blee were to step down now and allow the party to fill his seat, they would gain a tactical advantage over Democrats in the upcoming elections. Democrats have made significant inroads into Atlantic County politics winning seats at every level. Blee suffered a black eye after voting with Governor Corzine in last year's budget disaster that shut down Atlantic City casinos for days throwing thousands of people out of work and costing the industry millions of dollars in lost income. The Trenton stand off came between Speaker Joe Roberts and Corzine, who refused to take his marching orders from Roberts and Norcross. The governor refused to bow to demands to institute an income tax increase. Atlantic County Republicans are fighting the rising tide of money being poured into Atlantic County by political boss George Norcross. McCollough's plan to run with a clean slate in the November General Election means that Blee must go. The question now remains. Should Blee fall on his sword for the good of the party? That remains to be seen. |