Aimee Belgard

Aimee Belgard
Burlington County, New Jersey Freeholder
In office
2013 – Present
Personal details
Born April 30, 1974
Political party Democratic
Residence Edgewater Park Township, New Jersey
Alma mater Stockton College
Widener University
Profession Attorney

Aimee Belgard (born April 30, 1974) is an American lawyer and politician. She has served as a Burlington County, New Jersey Freeholder since being elected in 2012. Belgard is a member of the Democratic Party. Belgard was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Congress in New Jersey's 3rd congressional district, losing to Republican Tom MacArthur.[1][2]

Personal life and education

Belgard attended Haddonfield Memorial High School in Haddonfield, New Jersey.[3] She earned a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Stockton University in 1996, and a J.D. from Widener University School of Law in 1999.[4]

Career

Belgard served as a member of the Edgewater Park Township Planning/Zoning Board for four years,[5] before serving as an Edgewater Park Township Committeewoman from 2010-2013. She was elected to the Burlington County Board of Freeholders in 2012. She had unsuccessfully run for the same office in 2010.[4]

Belgard spent 16 years as a trial and appellate lawyer for the law firm Sweeney and Sheehan.[4][6] Additionally, she served on the board and as both vice president and president-elect of Board of the American Cancer Society, Eastern Division. She also served on the national board of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and locally on the board of the YMCA.[7]

Personal life

Belgard lives in Edgewater Park Township, New Jersey with her husband, Bill, and two children.[7]

2014 congressional campaign

Belgard was a congressional candidate for New Jersey's 3rd congressional district, seeking the seat that was being vacated by Republican Congressman Jon Runyan.[8] Her opponent was Republican Tom MacArthur, a businessman and former mayor of Randolph.[9] During the campaign, Stuart Rothenberg of Roll Call said the “district is competitive, though it leans slightly Republican” and will be a “serious fight.”[10]

Belgard was endorsed by the National Organization for Women, Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters and EMILY's List, a political action committee that supports pro-choice Democratic candidates.[11][12]

During the course of her campaign, Belgard defended the Affordable Care Act as well as President Obama's decision not to inform Congress about the release of five terrorists from Guantanamo Bay. Belgard supports the Affordable Care Act and opposes attempts to repeal it,[13] but was criticized by WPHT talk show host Dom Giordano for “giving vague responses to complaints about the law.”[13] She has criticized President Obama for his position on Superstorm Sandy aid.[14]

In February 2014, Nancy Pelosi hosted a fundraiser for Belgard.[15] The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced it would spend $1.3 million in ads supporting her campaign.[16] One ad about her opponent’s company, reported by Time, was described by Factcheck.org as deceptive, which the DCCC disputes.[17]

Belgard was criticized by the MacArthur campaign for voting in favor of a tax increase on small businesses as an Edgewater Park Committeewoman, and was criticized for accepting a taxpayer-funded salary in spite of an old campaign video claiming she would not do so.[18][19] Belgard was also attacked by the MacArthur campaign for "ducking" the issue of whether or not she supported in-state tuition for illegal aliens.[18]

Belgard ultimately lost the election to MacArthur by an 11-point margin, losing the popular vote in both Ocean and Burlington Counties.[20][21]

Election history

New Jersey's 3rd congressional district Election Results, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom MacArthur 95,166 54.65
Democratic Aimee Belgard 75,972 43.63
Burlington County Freeholder Election Results, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bruce Garganio 91,854 23.99
Republican Mary Ann O'Brien 91,305 23.85
Democratic Aimee Belgard 100,403 26.23
Democratic Joanne Schwartz 97,111 25.37
Burlington County Freeholder Election Results, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Donnelly 69,067 51.96
Democratic Aimee Belgard 63,776 47.98
Edgewater Park Township Committee Election Results, 2009
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gregory J. Bouchard 876 20.08
Republican Allan Ashinoff 886 20.31
Democratic Aimee Belgard 1,316 30.16
Democratic John G. McElwee 1,284 29.43

[22]

References

  1. ↑ Hefler, Jan (6-5-2014). "MacArthur, Belgard to compete for N.J.'s Third District seat". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 27 June 2014. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ↑ Friedman, Matt. "Elections 2014: MacArthur defeats Belgard to win N.J.'s open 3rd congressional district seat", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 4, 2014. Accessed November 19, 2014. "MacArthur, a retired insurance executive, beat Democrat Aimee Belgard, a Burlington County freeholder, for south Jersey's open 3rd District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to the Associated Press."
  3. ↑ "Aimee Belgard, attorney, freeholder - phillyburbs.com: 40under40bct". phillyburbs.com. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Moorestown Patch Staff (October 3, 2012). "Aimee Belgard, Burlington County Freeholder Candidate". Moorestown Patch. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  5. ↑ Kolumbic, Dubravka (November 2, 2010). "Freeholder candidate Aimee Belgard touts education, experience". The Columbia Record. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  6. ↑ Tamari, Jonathan (2014-08-14). "National Democrats target a South Jersey district". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Aimee Belgard". Burlington County. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  8. ↑ Livingston, Abby (8 November 2013). "Runyan Retirement Sparks Rare Open N.J. Seat". Roll Call. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  9. ↑ Zernike, Kate (6-4-2014). "In New Jersey, a Republican Nominee Will Try to Hold On to a Congressional Seat". New York Times. Retrieved 19 August 2014. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ↑ Rothenberg, Stuart (2014-07-28). "So You Want to Be a Political Handicapper? 2014 Edition". Roll Call. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  11. ↑ Friedman, Matt (2014-02-13). "EMILY's List promotes Burlington County freeholder to replace Runyan". Star-Ledger. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  12. ↑ Miller, Patricia (2014-03-11). "Ocean County Chapter Of Sierra Club Endorses Burlington Freeholder For 3rd District Seat". Berkeley Patch. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Rinde, Meir (2014-05-21). "DEMOCRATS HOPE TO WREST 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT FROM GOP GRASP". NJ Spotlight. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  14. ↑ Pizarro, Max (2014-06-23). "CD3: Belgard tries to put distance on Obama over administration's Sandy aid plan". Politicker New Jersey. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  15. ↑ Friedman, Matt (2014-01-28). "Pelosi to hold fundraiser for N.J. congressional candidate". Star-Ledger. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  16. ↑ Elliott, Philip (2014-08-13). "House campaign groups start $75 million ad blitz". Press Herald. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  17. ↑ Nicks, Denver (2014-08-14). "Fact Checking Group Slams New Democratic Ad for ‘Deception’". Time. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 http://politickernj.com/2014/10/cd3-tax-records-cast-long-shadow-during-second-belgard-v-macarthur-debate/
  19. ↑ http://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/local/south-jersey/2014/11/07/old-video-haunts-house-race-nj/18641503/
  20. ↑
  21. ↑
  22. ↑

External links