BERGEN DEMS
LOOK TO PASSAIC, THE PAST FOR 36TH ASSEMBLY CANDIDATE
GOP
TO RUN CASALE, DiLASCIO?
HACKENSACK
- Bergen Democrats seem intent on considering a
Passaic based Democrat on the 2005 Assembly ticket
even though a Passaic Democrat has not won in the
36th since the reelection of former Assemblyman Lou
Gill in 1989.
"Democrats
in 36 have run Passaic candidates in 1991, 1993, 1997, 1999
and 2003, They all lost. The district
has drastically changed. Democrats have scored major
in-roads in places like North Arlington and Rutherford.
The second slot on the ticket with Fred Scalera logically
should come from the Bergen portion of the district,"
said one former District 36 leader.
Some
reports suggest that Rutherford Mayor Bernadette
McPherson has been approached, but not interested
in commuting to Trenton. Others report that Freeholder
McPherson is more interested in seeking higher office
within the confines of Bergen County. Some have
suggested McPherson could be a candidate for Clerk
or even County Executive.
Other
reports now surfacing suggest that Wallington Mayor
Walt Wargacki could make a second attempt for
the state legislature.
The
district's longest serving mayor, Wargacki was
viciously attacked in 2001 by Republicans for a series
of property tax increases in his hometown of Wallington.
"Wargacki
lost in 2001 because his record of raising taxes
was manipulated in direct mail as well as cable
spots. Democrats would be wise not to repeat the same
mistake and run a candidate who has a real record
on property taxes like Mayor Russ
Pitman of North Arlington, said one insider close
to the county leadership.
Some
Democrats seem to support an "anyone but Pitman"
candidacy.
"There
are some district-wide Democrats who seemed threatened
by a Pitman candidacy. If they put their egos
aside, they would realize a Pitman candidacy for the
Assembly almost assures a Democratic sweep," said
one Lyndhurst observer.
"Some
of these Democrats don't have an institutional memory
of the district. Their memory seems to begin with
the 2001 cycle. Democrats only win when they can
successfully forge a coalition of urban Passaic
City Democrats with the Reagan Democrats of Bergen
County."
"Some
Democrats don't realize the overall make-up of
the district still bodes well for Republicans. President
Bush ran well in Nutley and other portions of Bergen
County. A real moderate with a record in controlling
property taxes is the only kind of Democrat that can
win in November,"
On
the Republican side, Nutley school trustee Phil Casale
will probably join Lyndhurst school attorney Rich
DiLascio of Lyndhurst as the GOP duo.
"The
Republicans are playing to their base. That ticket
makes sense. If Paul DiGaetano should somehow capture
the Republican nomination come June, Democrats
would be saddled with the prospect of a Republican
sweep in November and one of those candidates challenging
incumbent Senator Paul Sarlo come 2007," said one
pollster who has worked several district races.
Others
believe the controversial EnCap and Xanadu projects
are losers with voters come November.
"Is Assemblyman
Scalera prepared to support thousands of units of
affordable housing? Is he prepared to defend over
development and the traffic that will come with these
ambitious proposals? The Republicans have a perfect
opportunity to turn EnCap into a huge negative for
Democrats," said one Lyndhurst activist.
"EnCap
will be a crucial issue in the May municipal
elections in Lyndhurst. You can see the hand-writing
on the wall. If it costs Guida his seat, look for
that strategy to be replicated in any GOP effort for
the Assembly come the fall campaign. Remember, DiLascio
will seek to consolidate his base for the fall," said
another GOP Committeeman.
