Belfatto Explains Decision to Withdraw

Deb Belfatto, former Democratic candidate for the Ward I council seat, said deciding to withdraw her name from the campaign was not an easy decision.

But she said knows now the demands of her job as Executive Director of Susan G. Komen for The Cure's North Jersey Affiliate would interfere with the time she would want to devote to the common council.

“My passion is really focused on women and really focused on women’s causes: breast cancer, the need for a national eating disorder association and the focus is to have women just to take care of themselves, so in really evaluating the demands of my schedule I just came to the realization that I wouldn't be able to really give the time that I believe is necessary and is deserving and is required of serving in a council role,” she said.

Belfatto said when she was initially asked by Mayor Jordan Glatt to run for office, she thought she was at a point in life where she could wean herself off some of her responsibilities.

“Because of my tremendous passion and the needs of the organization and the cause it just wasn’t realistic,” Belfatto said. “I had to make a tough decision.”

Belfatto said Glatt had asked her to run in hopes of balancing out the all-Republican council.

“I want to really express my gratitude to Mayor Jordan Glatt and the Democratic Committee for having the confidence in me to give me consideration to even run for the council position,” Belfatto said.
 
Steve Murphy remains on the ticket for the at-large seat and Laura Coburn is running in Ward II. 

“I think it’s a strong ticket,” Belfatto said of her former running mates. “They’re two people who really, really understand the needs of the community. And they certainly have a goal of balancing the council and bringing some fresh, robust ideas and enthusiasm to all of the hot issues that we are currently facing.”

Issues, she says, like the health of business in downtown Summit.

 “I believe it’s the center of our community,” she said. “It definitely is in need of re-energizing. “

Belfatto said she called Nuris Portundo, her former opponent in Ward I, to inform the Republican of her decision to withdraw.

While the response from the community to her decision has been quiet, something Belfatto said could be due to the timing and/or the lack of interest in local politics, she doesn’t think her decision will negatively effect the Democratic ticket.

“I believe that individually or collaboratively that the Democratic ticket has tremendous competency to win this election,” she said.