By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
Spring is in the air and so is Election 2015, Save Jerseyans.
As we enter the middle of March, races are beginning to take shape around New Jersey and the political battleground comprised of southern Bergen County’s legislative districts and local municipalities is no exception. This week especially, a clear picture of how things will break down in the fall began to emerge.
In the 36th legislative district, a district that could be a front line contest if Republicans are serious about taking back the Assembly this year, the GOP has settled on two candidates: Jim Lenoy and Forrest Elliot. Lenoy, a Carlstadt Councilman, emerged in the Assembly picture after LD36 Chair Joe Crifasi passed. Similarly, while former Co-Chair of the New Jersey College Republicans James Keyes was originally expected to take another crack at the nomination, and recruiters were unable to secure a North Arlington council member, an exhaustive multi-town search resulted in the candidacy of Wood-Ridge municipal Chairman Forrest Elliot.
They’ll face Democrat incumbents Marlene Caride (D-Ridgefield) and Gary Schaer (D-Passaic).
Down-ballot, North Arlington aims for 6-0 Republican council dominance in 2015 on a ticket led by newly-minted Councilman and former legislative candidate Brian Fitzhenry. The Democrats are expected to stick with their incumbents, Albert Granell and Tom Zammatore, neither of whom is particular popular. A wild card: the presence of former North Arlington Councilman Steve Tanelli on the county ticket.
In East Rutherford, Mayor Jim Cassella may be headed for a rematch with Councilman Ed Ravettine, a former Republican-turned-Democratic councilman who also ran as an independent four years ago before losing his seat in a primary only to win it back as a Democrat last year. Changeable? You bet! Cassella, a long-time popular incumbent, would be heavy favorite again in a rematch with no other Democrat really standing a fighting chance.
In Rutherford proper, incumbent Mayor Joe DeSalvo is still waiting to learn the identity of his Democratic opponent, but he has already drawn a primary challenger in Daphne Williams Fox, the granddaughter of poet William Carlos Williams (for you American lit majors out there). It is yet to be seen whether Fox will align with renegade former Mayor John Hipp and the Rutherford Republican Club but we’re told it’s a good bet. The Democrats appear likely to run former Councilwoman Kim Birdsall although nothing has been confirmed or made official.
Finally, in Wallington, Republicans will aggressively target Democratic Mayor Walter Wargacki who has been in office for decades but barely survived a strong challenge four years ago. Republicans also enjoy a strong potential candidate in Councilman Chris Sinisi. Sinisi would almost certainly defeat Wargacki; however, Wargacki may first have to get through a primary against popular Democratic Councilman Mark Tomko who I’m told is a much more formidable candidate.
The only guarantee, Save Jerseyans? LD36, as per usual, will remain a hot bed of local political activity this year; a district known for towns that go back-and-forth between GOP and Dem control from year-to-year looks unlikely to disappoint in 2015. Butter the popcorn and keep it here for updates…
