Posted on 04/05/2002 7:50:37 AM PST by jmc813
| Russo upsets Cardinale Republican Party delegates Thursday delivered an upset victory to a Ridgewood assemblyman and a win to a veteran Wyckoff state senator in their campaigns for two of Bergen County's most important elected positions. Assemblyman David C. Russo received 10 votes more than Sen. Gerald Cardinale, giving him the Republican line in the June primary for the seat being vacated by 11-term Rep. Marge S. Roukema in the 5th Congressional District. Sen. Henry P. McNamara was chosen to run for the office held by William "Pat" Schuber, the outgoing Bergen County executive. Treffinger backed The party also backed Freeholder Anthony Cassano to run for a fifth term, and endorsed former Fair Lawn Mayor Ed Trawinski to replace retiring Freeholder James Sheehan. James Treffinger, the Essex County executive, won the opportunity to run on the organization line in his pursuit of the U.S. Senate seat held by Robert G. Torricelli. The primary will be June 4. Russo had campaigned as a moderate alternative to the conservative Cardinale, and his party's endorsement - 271 votes to Cardinale's 261 - was considered a major upset. "We have to come together, especially for this congressional seat. We have to win not only in June but in November," Russo said to a roaring crowd at the party's county headquarters on Main Street in Hackensack. Cardinale's campaign manager, Daniel Quinonez, said that despite his loss Thursday night, Cardinale would stay in the race. The offices held by Schuber and Roukema are the most sought-after in Bergen politics, and those who would be on the ballot in September courted the 1,250-member GOP committee until the final moments. Officials said 1,120 delegates cast votes. The voting took place at GOP headquarters on Main Street, where a rear parking lot took on the air of a carnival, complete with a Dixieland band and food at every turn. Treffinger showed up in a recreational vehicle plastered with campaign signs. McNamara offered sandwiches while his opponent, Bogota Mayor Steven Lonegan, handed out ice cream. Assemblyman David Russo of Ridgewood, who challenged Cardinale, took one look at the tailgate parties and urged delegates to a banquet hall he had rented. "Go across the street and get some real food," he said. In the fight for the party's endorsement for county executive, McNamara withstood an aggressive challenge. After four hours of voting by delegates Thursday evening, McNamara pulled in 625 votes; Bergen County Clerk Kathleen Donovan, 254; and Lonegan, 239. Both Lonegan and Donovan had told party leaders that they would back the party's choice rather than force an expensive primary battle. In the race for Roukema's seat, Assemblyman E. Scott Garrett, of Sussex County, finished third, with 27. He was followed by New York University professor and Upper Saddle River resident Akram Yosri, who received 3 votes, and Richard Peterson, a marketing strategist from Ridgewood who received none. Russo's win does not guarantee him the nomination. Garrett, whose base is in the western half of the district, nearly upset Roukema in the past two Republican primaries. Garrett has been backed by party leaders in Sussex and Warren counties. Sixty percent of the district is in Bergen. It includes a small portion of Passaic County. Yosri, a former telecommunications entrepreneur, has said he will stay in the race. Two others are expected to be on the June 4 ballot: Peterson and 25-year-old Sussex County resident Brian Fox. Five candidates for the U.S. Senate campaigned for the party's support in the weeks leading up to Thursday night's meeting. Though it is the home of the Democrat Torricelli, Bergen County is a Republican stronghold - critical to the success of any Republican running statewide. Treffinger won the party's backing with 684 votes, followed by West Windsor businesssman Douglas Forrester, with 246 votes. State Sen. Diane Allen of Burlington County - a formidable candidate because of her strong support in South Jersey - finished third, with 116. Assemblyman Guy Gregg of Morris County finished fourth with 29 votes. Sen. John Matheussen of Gloucester County received 10 votes. Robert W. Ray, the former independent counsel who earlier this year wrapped up the seven-year federal investigation of former President Bill Clinton, has indicated he is interested in the nomination, as well; but he joined the race too late to compete in the Bergen convention, party leaders said. First challenge In the county freeholder race, Cassano survived his first convention challenge in years. He received 773 votes, followed by Trawinski with 561. Four others were running for the party endorsement: East Rutherford Councilman Joel Brizzi, 459; River Edge Mayor Margaret Falahee Watkins, 148; Ramsey Councilman Jeffrey C. Heller, 48; and Northvale Councilman Lloyd Winans, 18. The Republicans have not yet endorsed a candidate to oppose Rep. Steve Rothman, D-Fair Lawn, who is seeking a fourth term. The county's Democratic organization picked its candidates weeks ago. Some have been hard at work, raising money and refining platforms. The Bergen Democrats' choice in the 5th Congressional race is Upper Saddle River opthamologist Anne Sumers, who announced this week that she has raised $215,000 in campaign money - $100,000 of that her own. 3070763 |
It means that if you live in Bergen County, when you walk into the election booth or get your sample ballot at home, Russo's name will be first on the line that says "Republican" the others will be buried somewhere else on the ballot. Many people do not read the papers or follow politics, even though they may be partisan, so they see the republican line and vote straight across. The others won't be near that line.
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