FREEHOLDER RACES
By EditorRepublicans held control of the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders, and will have a 3-2 majority next year. GOP incumbent Robert Clifton was re-elected, but Democrats captured an open Republican seat with John D'Amico, a former Freeholder, State Senator and Superior Court Judge, defeating Republican Jeff Cantor by just 316 votes.
In Someret County, with Republican Patricia Walsh leads Democrat Melonie Marano.
Democrats picked up a Freeholder seat in Cumberland County, with Joseph Pepitone ousting incumbent Mary Gruccio.
In Burlington County, Republican Joseph Donnelly won an open Freeholder seat, defeating Democrat Tom Bader.
Democrats narrowly held two Freeholder seats in Passaic County. Incumbents Terry Duffy (29,980) and Pat Lepore (27,775) defeated Republicans Jerry Holt (24,318) and Joseph Stinziano (22,756).
Democrats held three Freeholder seats in Bergen County, but by a very narrow margin, according to The Record:
James M. Carroll* (D) -- 44,684
Tomas J. Padilla* (D) -- 44,179
Elizabeth Calabrese* (D) -- 45,155
Charles J.X. Kahwaty (R) -- 42,265
Robert B. Yudin (R) -- 42,932
Paul A. Duggan (R) -- 43,115
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In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
Christie Gives Notice, and G.O.P. Gains Hope ― DAVID KOCIENIEWSKI
Christie's legcy― THE BERGEN RECORD
Corzine for Treasury? Don't Bet on It.― WASHINGTON POST
Immigrants still in New Jersey― THE BERGEN RECORD
Now it's the Dems' chance to be dumb― PAUL MULSHINE
Corzine likely to go nowhere― THE DAILY RECORD
SILENT ON CHARGE; LIPSKI TELLS OF ALCOHOL BATTLE― STEVEN LIPSKI
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WOW
WOW - only a 1000 votes in Bergen - image if the Chairman Ortiz supported the County ticket!!
The Bergen County
The Bergen County Republicans are back. Although we didn't pick up freeholder seats, Republicans did VERY well in all municipal races. Cardinale fended off a well-fielded challenge
Duggan came real real close. It's a shame he didn't pull it off he's a great guy.
I'm glad Wally undeclared
I'm glad Wally undeclared Marano the winner in Somerset.
BCRO is the Goat
I got one crummy piece of mail the whole campaign from the BCRO supporting the Bergen freeholder candidates, saw no cable commercials, and virtually nothing on their homepage. GOP County Chair Rob Ortiz basically wrote them off and they could have won with some backing. Dare I say it but he almost makes Guy Talarico look good.
The results
Perhaps an indication that there is growing voter awareness of BCDO malfeasance and that the Republicans have an opportunity to rebuild their local brand, even as the national GOP has destroyed the national one.
Although I am a Democrat for national elections, I am open to supporting local candidates who concentrate on local issues -- particularly the Bossism, cronyism and malfeasance that is hurting our State, Counties and cities.
Advice to Bergen Republicans: cut the Bushies and the wingnuts loose. Rebuild your local brand by taking a committed stand against pay-to-play and focus your attention on being a public, not special interest, advocate.
You have a shot next time.
Advice to Bergen Democrats. Change BCDO direction by cutting out the pay-to-play gang. It will become desperate and ugly...but if the Freeholder numbers are any indication, the game is almost up.
GOP Observer ?
Its amazing that you were observing rather than donating and getting involved. You missed the Freeholder ads on cable. If you had donated and supported they may have been able to put on More
Congrats Duggan
That was impressive, in fact all the GOP candidates did well. I definitely think Duggan should start running again for next year right now, and demand the backing he deserves.
Dem pick-ups
The freeholder races are where Dems made further gains last night. Though a Bader win in BurlCo and a Marano win in Somerset would have been icing on the cake, we'll take the victories in Cumberland and Monmouth, respectively. A two-seat gain in freeholder seats is a modest, but important, victory for Dems in /07.
Ortiz Misses Opportunity
These Freeholder numbers are incredible! The races were remarkably close and they did it with practically no help from Ortiz. He didn't lift a finger for the Freeholder candidates and they still managed to keep things really close. Duggan would have been a huge win. The landscape in Bergen would be totally different. Imagine what would have happened if the BCRO actually tried to win the race. That this race was so close says two things - Ortiz is asleep at the wheel and increasingly irrelevant.