U.S. Republican Party

Passaic County Republicans are meeting tonight to consider candidates for the 2007 general election, but some insiders expect the session to be rather short one. With a 7:00 PM deadline for submitting resumes to party leaders for consideration as the endorsed organization candidates, the GOP still has no candidates for Sheriff, Surrogate, and for State Assembly in the 34th, 35th and 36th districts. The lack of candidates is causing some party leaders to question the strength and political future of the Republican County Chairman, Wayne Mayor Scott Rumana. Two Republicans, '06 candidate Arturo Soto and Clifton Firefighter Tony Latona, are seeking support for two Freeholder seats. There are unconfirmed reports that Rumana has agreed to allow Democratic Sheriff Jerry Speziale to run unopposed in November -- perhaps because Rumana doesn't want Speziale engaged in Wayne Council races this year.

Frank Blee, who took a beating in a Special Election Convention for State Senate yesterday, will not seek re-election to an eighth term in the State Assembly. That means the second district will have two open seats in 2007: Democrat James Whelan, the former Mayor of Atlantic City who was elected to the Assembly in 2005, is running for State Senator against the new GOP incumbent, James "Sonny" McCullough.

Some insiders say there will be pressure on Blee to resign early, as Bill Gormley did, so that Republicans will have a chance to appoint a new Assemblyman, who could seek re-election as an incumbent.

There is no question that Monmouth County Republicans have a huge problem on their hands: Freeholder Anna Little's possible defection -- she has not decided whether she will run for re-election as a Republican, a Democrat, or as an Independent -- clearly puts their longtime control of county government in serious jeopardy. Republican margins in Monmouth have been shrinking in recent years, and they would have a hard time handling a defection of GOP voters to Little. Two of the four Republican seats are up in 2007, and the Democrats need to win both to take conrol for the first time in more than twenty years.

Many political insiders view Monmouth as a battleground county this year. In addition to control of the Freeholder Board, both parties view the 11th (three open seats), 12th (Democratic Senator Ellen Karcher faces GOP Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck) and 13th legislative districts as potentially competitive.

Belmar Councilman Matthew Doherty has decided not to seek a State Assembly seat in 2007. Doherty, the husband of Corzine Deputy Chief of Staff Maggie Moran, ran a strong race in 2005 against GOP incumbents Sean Kean and Steve Corodemus. He had been expected to run again.