Vincent Micco

At John McCain’s campaign rally in Hamilton today, Former Bergen County Young Republicans Chairman Vincent Micco announced that he planned to seek the Republican nomination to challenge Steve Rothman in the 9th congressional district.

Micco, an Iraq war vet who just reenlisted, ran against Rothman in 2006 and lost with 28% of the vote.

“I look forward to serving under the extraordinary leadership of the next president of the United States: John McCain,” he said. 

Four years ago, when he was the Bergen County Young Republican Chairman, Vincent Micco liked to make fun of Joseph Glass, a 25-year-old political newcomer who became the GOP sacrificial lamb in the race against Congressman Steven Rothman. Glass lost by 53,191 votes -- a 70%-30% margin. After a tour of duty in Iraq, Micco decided to take on Rothman this year -- and did worse than Glass: he lost 71%-28%, losing by 60,870 votes.

MICCO FOR CONGRESS
Proud to Represent America
New Jersey’s 9th District

MURTHA -- THE JANE FONDA
OF THE IRAQ WAR

MICCO CALLS FOR BOYCOTT OF MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA
Show U.S. Economic Muscle

Rutherford NJ – Ninth District Republican congressional candidate Vincent Micco is calling on the American people to counter the illegal alien lobby with a boycott against Mexico as a show of solidarity for the rule of law and respect for United States immigration rules.

Let’s get real about the illegal immigrants and who they are and why they are here. Many are fleeing corruption in their own countries and indeed do work hard and I salute them. But many are here to take advantage of our country. Many are involved in drug sales, street crime and many are part of the lawless street gangs that have taken over our cities. They don’t belong here and we should be deporting them, not giving them citizenship, driver’s licenses and voting rights.�

Vincent Micco, a 34-year-old Army veteran who served in Iraq, will formally announce today that he will seek the Republican nomination for Congress against Steven Rothman in the ninth district. Micco, a banker and the father of four, served in Iraq in 2003 and 2003. Rothman, a five-term Democrat, supports a rapid withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

The Bergen County Republican Organization has endorsed Micco, and advisors to a rival slate headed by County Executive candidate Kathleen Donovan say that they have no plans to recruit candidates to run for Congress in either the fifth or ninth districts. A spokesman for the Micco campaign says the veteran hopes to have the support of both factions.

When his U.S. Army reserve unit was called up for active military service in 2003, Micco left his wife and children, his job, and his post as Bergen County Young Republican Chairman to serve in Iraq. But when Micco returned to civilian life after a year of service in a combat zone, he found himself in a far less significant war: for the Bergen YR chairmanship. It seems that some of the Young Republicans who assumed control during Micco's absence aren't eager to allow him to return to his post. The controversy centered around Walter "Jim" Dering, the 38-year-old Executive Director of the Bergen YR's, who said that Micco can't simply assume control of the organization because he returned home after the "constitutionally-mandated" YR election.