Bergen GOP

VETS FOR FREEDOM ENDORSES VINCE MICCO FOR CONGRESS

Calabrese said if elected he and his running mates will push for a measure to limit county borrowing by asking voters to approve spending above a threshold of $1 million.  “We cannot allow spending to go on and on. It is ruining Bergen County and ruining our state." 

“This event is an awesome display of leadership by Joe Caruso, who has become a tremendous asset to the Republican Party in North Jersey. With young energetic people like Joe with us, the GOP will rebound and we will win many elections.� 

Some party insiders close to Bergen County Republican Chairman Guy Talarico says that if Tom Kean declines to run on the organization line, Talarico will consider recruiting a more conservative candidate to run on his line for the United States Senate. Complicating matters is chatter within Bergen GOP circles that Kean personally encouraged Kathleen Donovan to run for County Executive.

State Senator Henry McNamara has endorsed Kathleen Donovan for Bergen County Executive, saying that the four-term County Clerk and former Assemblywoman has a better chance of defeating the Democratic incumbent, Dennis McNerney, than the other GOP candidate, former Freeholder Todd Caliguire. Unfortunately, Todd has been away from County government for some time. He would be a fine leader for Bergen County but you cannot lead unless you win. Kathe will be an excellent County Executive and she will win." McNamara defeated Donovan for County Executive at a Bergen GOP convention in 2002, and went on to lose the general election to McNerney.

Veteran lobbyist Alan Marcus has approached some Republican leaders about running for Bergen County Republican Chairman. His Op-Ed on recent failures by the Bergen GOP attracted considerable notice earlier this month, and County Committee members received a follow up letter from Marcus over the weekend. Marcus began his political career as Executive Director of the Republican Organization in 1968 and 1969, and was 21-years-old when he became Assembly Clerk in 1969. He has since built a successfull public affairs and advertising firm, The Marcus Group. The incumbent is Guy Talarcico, a former Assemblyman; some GOP insiders speculate that he won't seek re-election to another term in June.