October 23, 2007 - 9:22pm
DiLascio says GOP left him
By Matt FriedmanLyndhurst mayor and newly minted Democrat Richard DiLascio wants to clear the air.
He didn’t leave the Republican Party because Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero cut a deal with him, he said. He didn’t leave because he wanted to join the winning team. To hear DiLascio tell it, the county’s Republican party left him.
“I’ve been the chairman of this party in Lyndhurst for 20 years, a member for 30 years and in all that time there was always an opportunity to have discussions about different things facing the organization,” said DiLascio. “But lately the organization lost its focus- there’s nothing there but this totally irrelevant agenda that doesn’t meet its constituency’s needs.”
DiLascio reminisced about the moderate leaders who he said were alienated by the party: Congresswoman Marge Roukema; former County Clerk William "Pat" Schuber; former Freeholder Lisa Randall and County Clerk Kathleen Donovan.
“All of a sudden they were being called RINOS. They were out of step. Out of step is what the party is now,” said DiLascio.
But the final insult, DiLascio said, came when Republicans put up former Democrat Mike Guarino, a gadfly and constant thorn in DiLascio’s side over the controversial EnCap development, to run against State Sen. Paul Sarlo, who DiLascio said he has always had a good working relationship with.
DiLascio, who won the mayor’s seat two years with an anti-EnCap campaign, has been criticized for selling out to the developer. But he said that, with all the statewide investigations of the project, it would have been a waste for the town to hire its own attorney to look into it. And, he said, he earned concessions from the developer, like converting an old bus garage into a youth center with basketball courts.
DiLascio said that he decided to change parties between six and eight months ago, but decided to wait until now to demonstrate his support for State Sen. Paul Sarlo’s re-election campaign at a critical time, even if Sarlo is expected to have no problem winning re-election.
Lyndhurst’s governing board, DiLascio said, were ready to jump ship before he was.
“I brought it up with my commissioners and I was surprised with their response to it. It sounded like they were staying more as a courtesy to me,” said DiLascio.
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What is in the Kool-Aid you are drinking?
DiLascio is dilussional... the GOP left him??? How about 10 years ago when he supported Furnari??? Republican leader for 20??? Your father was the Republican leader!!! Mr. DiLascio, you should be ashamed of yourself! 10 months ago, you spoke about Peter Russo and his effect on your political career... now you are bashing the party Peter held dear to his heart? A working relationship with Sarlo??? In 2 years, the only relationship you have had has been with the taxpayers money. You tout the name Congresswoman Marge Roukema... the party did not leave her, she left because of health issues... Did you even know that, Mr. DiLascio??? It's now time for you to stop the finger pointing, stop the name dropping, and start facing up to the fact that you, sir, are a turn-coat. And the Republican Party is STILL ALIVE, WELL, and living in Lyndhurst. As for Mr. Guarino, why shouldn't he have the same opportunities you had??? Did you not run for state Senator in the Primary of 1997??? Did you not run for Assembly with Paul DiGaetano??? (and both times as a Republican).
Hey DiLascio maybe the BCDO can get you a fact checker...
Lisa Randall is still a Republican, as is Kathe Donovan. Randall openly supported Rob Ortiz for Chairman and is a likely GOP canddate again. Kathy Donovan is not only still a Republican, she is also still very popular with the public. Marge Roukema hasn't become a Democrat yet either. And Ortiz is a more moderate Republican than Talarico.
Rich, I know all that Ferriero money might be going to your head, but don't forget things others easily know.
yes, and kathe was destroyed by your party
and Lisa lost...and you are bitter...and more than stressed out that your party is in a free fall from which it will not recover. on TV tonight rob ortiz suggested that a county committee woman who was a lyndhurst republican since the 50s and always voted GOP but led the movement for this change because of kids getting killed in IRAQ should ignore that and focus on doing more for her community. You guys are out to lunch. Maybe she should should stay home and bake cookies for the Mayor as a Republican. If Kathe and Lisa don't want to fight this battle, that's their choice. But saying someone is less conservative than Guy is like saying charles manson is less violent than jack the ripper. And suggesting the Mayor is up to something sinister because your Party is going down the crapper from top to bottom is a cowardly and unethical way of facing up to your internal crisis. You only have six people left on the county committee in Lyndhurst, inlcuding the first poster here. Why? Because the Republican Party is a mess everywhere...all your smearing isn't going to change that.
Sounds pretty desperate to me
If Sarlo was that far ahead, he wouldn't have to buy off a bunch of Commissioners and stage an attack news conference on Mike Guarino.
Word is Sarlo's in a panic that he might lose to a guy with almost no money -- an even bigger humiliation than Ambrosio's two losses to John Scott.
Sources in both parties agree that the tax issue is beginning to gel for Republicans and that Democrats could collapse in the last week, suddenly putting seats like 3, 4, 6, 18, 19 and 22 into play
THAT would be amazing...
Of Course, the Home News Tribune refused to endorse Buono, so 18 could be an opening.
Crocodile tears while laughing all the way to the Bank
Enough already with these self serving money hungry, Pro moveon.org ANTI AMERICANS. Di lascio = di saster who sold out his soul, his party and his constituents to Sarlo and the far left wing of the liberal socialist party
Hatred is fun.
I love all you Bergen County folk. You are all so full of hatred. Ferriero money, Encap, extremists from both wings, people crashing and burning like the plumber from the 38th and the talented Mr. Talarico. Keep entertaining the rest of us. We love you even as you hate each others' guts.
DiLasco dont look into the light
IF the GOP was so bad...then why no go Independent...all you did was show your true Sarlo colors. Let the games begin!
Mountian man
get some sleep...1:30am...and stop up plotting the demise of the Democratic Party as you spend your days running campaigns for DEMOCRATS in North Bergen and North Arlington. You have more in common with Steve Lonegan than his being another of your "clients". Evenyone is in a panic about Gaurino? Come on...even you don't believe that...but good try. Why don't you run Gaurino for Commissioner in 09 and see if he can break a 1,000 votes this time. His coming in dead last last time was a start...