Shelley Adler Gets Burlington Support; Meeting in Ocean Set for Next Month

The Burlington County Democratic Committee has unanimously thrown its support behind Shelley Adler to run for Congress against incumbent Republican Jon Runyan.

The wife of the late former Congressman John Adler, Shelley Adler announced her intention to run for the third district House seat late last month. Receiving support from a county party organization means Adler's name will appear on the ballot under the official party column.

"Together, we will run an issues-based campaign that will create a real discussion of the challenges facing our country," Adler said in a statement.

Michael C. Muller, a campaign staffer, said Adler is arranging to meet with the Ocean County Democratic organization next month.

"She has spoken with Wyatt Earp and he has been very supportive along with the  organization," Muller said.

Wyatt Earp leads the Ocean County Democratic organization.

Adler's quest to reclaim the third district for the Democrats – John Adler was the first Democrat to represent the district in a more than a century when he was elected in 2008 – could be an even more uphill battle this time around thanks to the recent redistricting process based on the 2010 census. Democrat-leaning Cherry Hill was replaced with Republican-leaning Brick Township in the district.

Toms River and other Ocean County GOP strongholds also make up a large portion of the district.

Adler, a Cherry Hill native who once served on the township council there, will still be allowed to run for the seat even though her town is moving into the second district, according to federal election law.

Runyan, a former professional football player who unseated John Adler in 2010, has already announced his intention to seek re-election in 2012.