Freeholder Rich Dase to Seek Reelection; Brandi Endicott Earns Democrats' Nomination

Atlantic County Freeholder Rich Dase announced his intention to seek re-election in the Fourth District on Sunday, March 24, one day after Brandi Endicott secured the nomination from the Democratic Party at its convention in Egg Harbor Township.

The Fourth District encompasses Galloway, Absecon, Port Republic and Brigantine.

Dase will pursue the nomination at the Republican Convention on Wednesday, March 27.

Dase points to the county’s stable budget, low tax rate and completing key projects as positives for the freeholders in seeking reelection.

“Over the last few years our county has faced many challenges and like so many across our region had to do more with less and find ways to make every dollar go further,” Dase said in a statement issued on Sunday. “As a taxpayer myself, I understand the importance of maintaining a stable budget which is why we've held the line on spending, made county government more efficient, and stayed well below the Governor’s 2% cap. In fact, thanks to our County Executive and sound fiscal planning, our county tax rate is well below the state average, routinely ranked among the lowest in New Jersey, and remains lower today than it was in 2000.”   

He spoke about the need to help Brigantine recover following Superstorm Sandy last October, and the full interchanges for the Garden State Parkway at Pomona and Jimmie Leeds roads in Galloway.

“Full parkway interchanges at Pomona and Jimmie Leeds Road will help to alleviate congestion near Stockton College and speed up the rush hour commute for local residents,” Dase said. “Over the next three years I look forward to seeing these projects through and pushing for similar improvements at Exit 40 to help spur economic development along the White Horse Pike.”

Dase was first elected freeholder in 2007, after serving as a Galloway Councilman from 2005-2007.

In accepting the nomination, Endicott is calling for “more transparency and accessibility in county government.”

“Freeholder meetings should be at times and locations that allow for greater public participation than we have now,” Endicott said in a statement issued last week. “Not everyone can get to a meeting at 4 o’clock in the afternoon on a Tuesday to see how the county lawmakers are choosing to spend our money and resources. Governing bodies frequently use streaming technology to broadcast meetings and our Freeholder Board should be doing the same.”

Endicott is a Clinical Nurse Manager for Bayada Pediatrics in Linwood, and previously worked as a Registered Nurse in Oncology and Neurology for Shore Memorial Hospital. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Biology at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and a Bachelor’s in Nursing from Drexel University.

Endicott and running mates Bard Shober and Pamela Fields expressed concern about what they called the county’s dismal performance in the annual Kids Count Survey. Atlantic County ranked No. 20 out of 21 counties.

Shober, an Atlantic City attorney who lives in Ventnor, is running as an at-large candidate, meaning he will be on the ballot throughout the county. He is challenging Vice Chairman Joe McDevitt.

Fields is running in the First District. Democrat Charles Garrett currently represents the First District, but is running for Mayor of Atlantic City in November.