Delany verified the e-mail was sent by his wife and admitted it was the real reason for his resignation last month
State Senate candidate Carl Lewis speaks to members of The Star-Ledger in this file photo from earlier this month. The political website PolitickerNJ today published a racially-charged e-mail believed to have been sent to Lewis from former Assemblyman Patrick Delany's wife.TRENTON — Assemblyman Patrick Delany cited family reasons when he unexpectedly announced his resignation last month.
But the real reason for Delany’s resignation came pouring out today, after the political website PolitickerNJ.com published a racially-charged e-mail that Delany’s wife, Jennifer, allegedly sent to state Senate candidate Carl Lewis in response to a mass e-mail from Lewis' campaign.
“Imagine, not having to pay NJ state income taxes ... It must be nice. Imagine getting a court ruling overturned so your name could get put on the ballot. Imagine having dark skin and name recognition and the nerve to think that equalled (sic) knowing something about politics. Sure, knowing someone with fat purse strings is nice, but you have no knowledge,” the website quotes Jennifer Delany writing.
In a statement issued shortly after the story appeared on the website, Delany, a Republican from Burlington County who resigned Aug. 12, acknowledged the e-mail’s authenticity and said it was the reason he resigned.
"I am deeply disappointed in my wife's decision to send that email to Mr. Lewis' campaign; it does not reflect my personal beliefs whatsoever,” he said. “In an attempt to repair the serious damage this has caused to our marriage, and to protect our kids from public humiliation, I decided to leave public life. On behalf of my family, we sincerely apologize to Mr. Lewis for any pain this caused him."
Delany, 42, had served in the Assembly since December, when he was selected by Republicans to replace Dawn Marie Addiego (R-Burlington) after she moved up to the state Senate. Lewis, a Democrat, is challenging Addiego for her Senate seat, although his candidacy has been tied up in court as to whether he meets the state’s four-year residency requirement.
Burlington County GOP spokesman Bill Layton called the e-mail “racist” and “inexcusable” and said Delany brought it to his attention and decided to resign “in an attempt to protect his young children from a hurtful and embarrassing public spectacle.”
“While it may have been politically expedient to publicly throw Pat under the bus, I believe letting him walk away quietly was the honorable, compassionate thing to do for someone who personally had done nothing wrong,” said Layton.
Still, Layton added, “I was very clear with Pat from the beginning that if he chose to stay on the ballot, the Burlington County Republican Party would have withdrawn our support.”
Neither Jennifer Delany nor a spokesman for the Lewis campaign could immediately be reached for comment.
Previous coverage:
• Former Mount Laurel mayor is chosen to fill seat of departing assemblyman
• Burlington County legislator Pat Delany plans to resign from N.J. Assembly