Camille Andrews
Encyclopedia
Camille Spinello Andrews (born c. 1960) is an American
Democratic Party
politician
from New Jersey
, who was initially a candidate in the 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey
, running to represent .
, the district's current Representative, who sought the Democratic nomination for one of the state's U.S. Senate
seats in 2008. Since Rob Andrews could not run for the Senate while seeking re-election for his House seat, Camille was accused of being a "placeholder," who would presumably cede candidacy in the general election to another Democrat, possibly her husband, were he to lose the Senate Democratic primary to incumbent Frank Lautenberg
. Camille insisted that she was no placeholder, but she conceded that if asked by her party's leaders, she would step down and allow another candidate to run.
for a private equity firm, has been on leave since September 2007 from her other position, Associate Dean of the Rutgers School of Law
in Camden, New Jersey
. Holding the latter position has drawn criticism of a conflict of interest
of her husband, as he directed over $2 million dollar
s in federal earmarks
between 2001 and the present. Dale Glading, a Republican
politician also seeking Rob Andrews' seat, has called the earmarks "borderline unethical." However, both the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and the law school's internal council have asserted that there was no conflict of interest, on the grounds that Camille's status as an employee was not affected by the granting of the earmarks.
, and have two teenage daughters.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, who was initially a candidate in the 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey
United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey, 2008
The 2008 congressional elections in New Jersey were held on November 4, 2008 to determine who would represent the state of New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives. New Jersey has thirteen seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census...
, running to represent .
Nomination
Andrews is the wife of Rob AndrewsRob Andrews
Robert Ernest "Rob" Andrews is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1990. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes most of Camden County and parts of Burlington County and Gloucester County....
, the district's current Representative, who sought the Democratic nomination for one of the state's U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
seats in 2008. Since Rob Andrews could not run for the Senate while seeking re-election for his House seat, Camille was accused of being a "placeholder," who would presumably cede candidacy in the general election to another Democrat, possibly her husband, were he to lose the Senate Democratic primary to incumbent Frank Lautenberg
Frank Lautenberg
Frank Raleigh Lautenberg is the senior United States Senator from New Jersey and a member of the Democratic Party. Previously, he was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Automatic Data Processing, Inc.-Early life, career, and family:...
. Camille insisted that she was no placeholder, but she conceded that if asked by her party's leaders, she would step down and allow another candidate to run.
Career and criticism
The 48 year-old Andrews, besides being an attorneyLawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
for a private equity firm, has been on leave since September 2007 from her other position, Associate Dean of the Rutgers School of Law
Rutgers School of Law - Camden
Rutgers School of Law–Camden is a public law school of Rutgers University located in Camden, New Jersey on the Delaware Waterfront. It is one of two law schools of Rutgers University and one of only three law schools in the state of New Jersey...
in Camden, New Jersey
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
. Holding the latter position has drawn criticism of a conflict of interest
Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other....
of her husband, as he directed over $2 million dollar
Dollar
The dollar is the name of the official currency of many countries, including Australia, Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.-Etymology:...
s in federal earmarks
Earmark (politics)
In United States politics, an earmark is a legislative provision that directs approved funds to be spent on specific projects, or that directs specific exemptions from taxes or mandated fees...
between 2001 and the present. Dale Glading, a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician also seeking Rob Andrews' seat, has called the earmarks "borderline unethical." However, both the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and the law school's internal council have asserted that there was no conflict of interest, on the grounds that Camille's status as an employee was not affected by the granting of the earmarks.
Withdrawal
Camille Andrews won the Democratic primary for her husband's seat in the House, but Rob Andrews was beaten by Lautenberg in the Senate primary. After losing to Lautenberg, Rob Andrews decided to run for re-election to his House seat; Camille withdrew her candidacy on September 3, and Rob Andrews announced that on September 4 that he would take her place as the Democratic candidate. He maintained that his wife had not been merely a placeholder candidate and said that he had only decided to run for re-election a week before he announced it; according to Andrews, his change of heart was a result of personal reflection.Personal life
Andrews and her husband reside in Haddon Heights, New JerseyHaddon Heights, New Jersey
Haddon Heights is a borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population is 7,473....
, and have two teenage daughters.
External links
- Camille Andrews for Congress Official (candidacy) site