Ed Trawinski

Guy Talarico’s resignation was pleasant news for many Bergen County Republicans.

The loss of Todd Caliguire in a State Senate primary last night was widely considered the last straw for Talarico’s four-year chairmanship.

He’s left behind a county party that many local Republicans consider to be broke and in shambles, having spent considerable dollars fighting primary battles – with no money left to take on the Democrats.

Now the question of a replacement, which has been bandied about hypothetically for months, is real.

Edward Trawinski and Bill Thomson, part of opposing factions in the 2006 Bergen County Republican primary, are leading a grassroots effort to remove Guy Talarico as Bergen County GOP Chairman.  Their committee, "Anybody but Guy" are circulating petitions seeking Talarico's ouster, an full accounting of BCRO finances, and an open convention process to pick candidates in all districts. 

DONOVAN WILL CUT ALL UNNECESSARY EXPENSES AND MAKE COUNTY GOVERNMENT SMALLER AND ACCOUNTABLE

For immediate release: 5/23/06
Contact: Alan C. Marcus/201-902-9000

Kathleen Donovan, Republican candidate for County Executive, pledged today to "conduct a top to bottom review of the county budget and eliminate all unnecessary expenditures."

According to Donovan, "A quick review of the county budget discloses taxpayer funds being sent to agencies outside of government. Unless these expenditures including grants provide direct taxpayer benefit they should be eliminated. Immediately."

CANDIDATES SAY DONOVAN IS TAXPAYERS BEST FRIEND

For immediate release: May 19, 2006
From: Bergen County Republicans, Inc.

The election of Kathleen Donovan to the post of County Executive will mean a leaner, more efficient Bergen County government, according to Republican Freeholder candidates Elizabeth Randall and Ed Trawinski and Surrogate candidate Jae Kim.

"Kathe Donovan has made the County Clerk's office the model for efficiency," the candidates said. "Just think how taxpayers will benefit when she expands those efficiencies to the entire county government."

Randall, Trawinski and Kim are running as a ticket with Donovan in the June 6 Republican Primary.

Noting that Donovan is the only countywide Republican elected official overseeing a constitutional office, the candidates said, "Although the Democrat controlled County Executive and Board of Freeholders have failed to fully fund her budgets, Kathe has made the County Clerk's office the most efficient and productive in the state. She generates millions of dollars of profits which are returned to the state and county treasuries each year. Kathe Donovan is clearly the taxpayer's best friend."

Randall, Trawinski and Kim concluded, "Kathe turned the County Clerk's office into a profit center. This coupled with her experience as the first and only woman to lead the $5 billion Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as it's chairperson make her the ideal candidate to serve as Bergen County Executive."

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Donovan, Randall and Trawinski will Use Regulatory Authority to Block Overdevelopment in Bergen

For Immediate release: 5/10/06 contact: Alan C. Marcus/201-902-9000

Kathleen Donovan said today that she would use her powers as County Executive to work with local officials to combat over development throughout Bergen County.

For Immediate Release
Contact: info@LaurenThomson.com

PENSION REFORM IS NEEDED NOW:
Donovan & Co. Should Lead by Example

May 7, 2006- Republican County Freeholder candidate, Lauren Thomson, welcomes Kathe Dononvan's agreement with her position on removing part-time politicians from the full-time pension system. Thomson is reiterating “The need for reform is apparent. There is something inherently wrong with the system when part-time politicians are given the same benefits as hard working full time employees.� Under current law the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) enters employees into the pension system that make a minimum of only $1,500 per fiscal year.
“It is ironic that Donovan, Randall, and Trawinski have all held part-time political positions that they are using to boost to their public pensions, yet claim to want pension reform.� continued Thomson “Both Randall and Trawinski are currently holding part-time positions that pads their public pensions. If they are truly concerned about pension reform, they should lead by example by voluntarily declining to pad their pensions.�
Kathe Donovan is currently padding her pension at a salary of $99,905 with benefits, prior to that she padded her pension as a part-time legislator. Lisa Randall is currently padding her pension at $27,263 with benefits, prior to that she padded her pension as a part-time legislator and State Insurance Commissioner. Ed Trawinski is currently padding his pension as a part-time councilman, prior to that he padded his pension in local government and part-time positions on legislators’ staff.
Earlier this week, Thomson published a plan on her campaign website to eliminate part-time politicians from reaping the benefits of full time employees. For more information about Lauren Thomson visit her campaign website at: www.LaurenThomson.com

THE DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE
_________________________________________
4 April 2006
Richard McGrath
609 392 3367

Cryan Statement on Eagleton's Poll on Senate Race

Trenton - Joe Cryan, chairman of the Democratic State Committee, issued the following statement on Tuesday on the latest poll on the Senate race:

"The more people learn about Tom Kean Jr the better it is for Bob Menendez. The campaign has not become fully engaged, yet Senator Menendez is distinguishing himself as the better choice.

"As George Bush's dismal poll rating shows, Tom Kean Jr has some heavy baggage to carry in a year of Congressional elections when the Bush agenda and the Republican record in Washington are defining issues.

"The public is aware of the severity of the state's budget crisis and what they are coming to learn is that Tom Kean Jr walked away from the problem when the going got tough."

GANZ FAILS TO APPLY TO COUNTY OPEN SPACE FUND TO PROTECT RADBURN PROPERTY
MAYOR IS A ‘HYPOCRITE’
IFair Lawn, NJ – While Mayor David Ganz is running newspaper ads and sending out political fliers claiming he is a champion of open space, he failed to apply to the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund for money that could help the borough save critical parcels of open space that are facing development pressure, says former mayor Ed Trawinski, a candidate for council this year.