From The Press of Atlantic City — Citing philosophical differences with the local Democratic club, Deputy Mayor William Kennedy says he has submitted the necessary paperwork to change his party affiliation to Republican.

The move is not yet official, Kennedy said, but he expects to be notified of that soon.

Kennedy said his political philosophy has not changed and that the move had more to do with pleasing the members of his soon-to-be former party.

“The Democrats don’t get along with me, and I don’t get a long with them,” Kennedy said. “I’m doing this because the Democrats asked me to.”

In January, the local Democratic Club called on Kennedy to resign from his position on the Atlantic County Democratic Committee due to his “desire to not affiliate with the local Democratic Club and local Democratic elected officials.”

Also in the envelope was a pre-written resignation letter, addressed to Atlantic County Democratic Committee Chairman Patrick D’Arcy, for Kennedy to sign.

A few days later, Kennedy told The Press of Atlantic City he would resign from the committee on his own terms, not “because these people signed a letter at a meeting that I
wasn’t invited to.”

Kennedy said he eventually realized it was time for a change.

“And if you come to the meetings, everything wit h them is negative,” he said. “I try to be positive.”

When asked if he would run for re-election as a Republican, Kennedy said he “doubts very much” that he will run again, but added that decision is still two years away.

And Kennedy said he does not believe that his new party affiliation or the Democrats’ apparent lack of confidence in him will negatively affect the township.

“I’m not any different today than I’ve ever been,” he said. “I’m still the same person and a D or R next to my name doesn’t change that.”

The move, however, will officially shift the power on the five-person Township Committee from Democrat to Republican. Kennedy was already increasingly siding with the two Republicans on split issues in recent months, as the tensions between him and the Democrats grew.

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