Michael Guarino

One of the reasons Lyndhurst Mayor Richard DiLascio gave for switching parties was the nomination of Mike Guarino for State Senate in the 36th district. That wasn't the first time DiLascio crossed party lines because of Guarino: he did it in 1999, when he endorsed Guarino, who was the Democratic candidate for Bergen County Freeholder.

There is no good way for Republicans to spin the events in Lyndhurst, where five Republicans on the technically non-partisan governing body, and nearly 60% of the Republican municipal organization will announce today that they are becoming Democrats. Lyndhurst is a swing town in countywide elections in Bergen County, which has moved decisively Democratic over the last few years. If Lyndhurst Republican Michael Guarino beats Democratic State Senator Paul Sarlo in Lyndhurst next month, it might show that Mayor Richard DiLascio doesn't control real general election votes, but this is still a blow to the struggling Bergen County Republican Organization.

Republicans say they have nominated three candidates through write in votes in the GOP primary: in the 22nd district, former Somerset County Freeholder Rose McConnell will take on State Senator Nicholas Scutari, and Robert Gatto, a former North Plainfield candidate, will join Bryan Desrochers in the race for State Assembly against incumbents Linda Stender and Gerald Green.

In District 36, former Lyndurst Board of Education member Michael Guarino, who was tossed from the ballot after failing to obtain 100 signatures on his petition, won the GOP Senate nomination. He'll challenge State Senator Paul Sarlo. Federal prosecutors have served Scutari and Sarlo with subpoenas as part of the state budget probe.

Democrats feel confident that former Bergen County Health Inspector Michael Guarino will not be on the ballot in the June 5 Republican primary for State Senator. Guarino, a 78-year-old former Lyndhurst Board of Education member who switched parties over the last few weeks, filed with 101 -- just one more than the legal requirement. If just two of the signatures are invalidated, Republicans in the 36th district would need to get 100 write-in votes in the primary to prevent Democratic State Senator Paul Sarlo from running unopposed.

Bergen County Republicans will run Michael Guarino, a 78-year-old former Bergen County Health Inspector, against Democratic State Senator Paul Sarlo. Former East Rutherford Councilman Kevin Settembrino was expected to run, but declined at the last minute.