IBEW District 3 (NY, NJ, DE, PA) Rep, Wyatt Earp, Suggested as New Ocean County Dem Chair

REASON: Workload as president of Teamsters Local 469

SUCCESSOR: Russell K. Corby and Wyatt Earp each have a shot
County Democratic chief to quit

By JOSEPH PICARD, TOMS RIVER BUREAU, Published in the Asbury Park Press 04/12/05

POINT PLEASANT — Fred Potter is stepping down as chairman of the Ocean County Democratic Party, citing an increased workload at his regular job.

"There simply is not enough time to perform my duties as chairman and also handle my responsibilities to the union," said Potter, 52, a lifelong resident of Point Pleasant who is president of Local 469 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and a representative to the union's international council.

Potter, who became Democratic chairman in 2003, sent letters Monday to the 350 or so members of the Democratic County Committee announcing his resignation and asking members to attend a county committee meeting Saturday in Toms River to elect his successor.

In his letter, Potter recommends labor leader Wyatt Earp, 44, of Dover Township to succeed him as party chairman.

Earp is the international representative for the third district of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the president of the Monmouth & Ocean Counties Central Labor Council. He could not be reached for comment Monday.

Any other county Democrat may seek the chairmanship. Nominations will be entertained from the floor Saturday before committee members vote.

Pine Beach Mayor Russell K. Corby, who is also executive director of the Lakewood Development Corp., has been critical of Potter's leadership and is expected to make a bid for the chairmanship.

"It's well-known that I have been interested in the chairmanship for a long time," Corby said. "I will talk with various Democrats and see how things stand. If the party is truly looking for a return to Ocean County leadership, then perhaps we can all move forward together."

Dover Township Mayor Paul C. Brush lashed out at Potter for calling for the election of a new county chairman on such short notice.

"It's unfair to the party and to prospective candidates for chairman to have the committee meeting so quickly after (his) announcement of resignation," Brush said. "People need time to think over the options and make a sound decision. This is an important choice. Fred Potter should not be making a political power play to lift his man into the position."

Brush said he personally favors Dover Planning Board Chairman Salvatore J. Mattia.

Corby and some other Democrats say Potter was too greatly influenced by McGreevey Democrats from Trenton and other parts of the state, and so lost the support of old-time Ocean County Democrats and weakened the local party.

Potter dismissed the criticism.

"The old leaders of county Democrats were more concerned with their own personal success than with the success of the party," Potter said. "I'm glad I got the chance to change that."

Potter said the party grew stronger under his leadership.

"We took control in Jackson. We took control in Point Pleasant Beach," Potter said. "We regained control of Berkeley. We put a (Democratic) mayor in Dover. We took seats in Seaside Park. Overall, we've done well in the past few years."

Critics point out that the party lost control of Brick, still does not have a Democratic federal or state legislator from the county and has not held a seat on the county freeholder board since the early 1990s.

Potter countered that, in a Republican stronghold like Ocean County, less money flows to the Democrats, making it more difficult to accomplish things.

"Money is the key," Potter said. "We're bringing more money into the party than ever before, but it is still a balancing act regarding how to spend it. We can spend the money on campaigns or we can spend it on party building. It's hard to do both on limited funds."

Potter said elected Democratic municipal leaders should become more aggressive in supporting the county party, and that the party needs to make a greater effort to reach out to new residents.

Most Democrats contacted Monday said they were just learning of Potter's resignation and declined comment until they had more information. Point Pleasant Beach Councilwoman Monica Walsh said Potter has served the party well.

"I like Wyatt Earp, too," she said. "But, given the current state of things in the county and within the party, we Democrats need someone with Russ Corby's experience in a leadership position."
Copyright Asbury Park Press 2005