Third Party, Downtown-Centric Democracy Rocks Hammonton, NJ

According to Hammonton Online, Hammonton First candidates crushed the Democrats and the Republicans yesterday in Hammonton, NJ. The party organized around a desire to maintain the community's downtown, and to not move City Hall to Route 30, a sprawl-enabling road outside of the core of the city.

Food for thought.

How about the City Beautiful Party? Or City Revival?

For more about the victory in Hammonton, see "New Hammonton party sweeps mayor, council races" and "Hammonton First sweeps election." From the latter article:

Voter turnout was at 57.7 percent for the town, with 4,735 registered voters taking part in the election. There are 8,199 in Hammonton. At a raucous celebration at Hammonton First headquarters on Bellevue Avenue, DiDonato said it was time to begin the healing process for the rift that divides this community. "I know we had a lot of negative things against us," DiDonato said. "We have to put the past behind us and reunite the town. Let's reach out to our neighbors and reunite the town."

The campaign was the costliest in local history with the Hammonton First campaign expense likely to near the $100,000 mark. The Republicans also spent a large amount, nearly $40,000, while the Democrats worked on a veritable shoestring budget of some $5,000...


In addition to its financing, the campaign was also one of the most heated as the Hammonton First party made a strong effort to unseat the Republicans, who have a 6-1 majority on the council. The well-organized campaign was full of special events, such as country and western nights at its very visible campaign headquarters on Bellevue Avenue downtown. Also, almost every voter heard the "Vote for Hammonton First" truck with its loudspeaker go down their street at least once.