PASSAIC COUNTY GOP SAYS NEW LEADERSHIP NEEDED ON STATE AND COUNTY LEVELS

By horatio

GOP STRONG

Fighting For Republican Victories

Mike Mecca -201-852-1067

Mike Ramaglia 201-697-7699

PASSAIC COUNTY -- The leaders of the political action group GOP Strong say they endorse State. Sen. Joseph Pennacchio’s call for New Jersey Republican leader Tom Wilson to resign. “It is obvious that the party needs a new direction and a new message and a new image, to be able to win elections in New Jersey,” said GOP Strong Co-Chair Michael Ramaglia.

“Mr. Wilson has tried to turn the party around -- but in the face of some tough circumstances, he has failed. He should recognize that fact and allow someone else to move in now before we enter the critical 2009 election seasons,” said Ramaglia.

“We can’t have leadership, whether it is on the state or county level, hanging around just to hang around.” Michael Mecca, also GOP co-chair, says the lack of energy in the party is noticeable and so is the lack of direction. “The Republican Party in New Jersey suffers from a lack of dynamic, motivating leadership. It is evident in Passaic County and other places. That sense of motivation has to start at the top and it has not been evident.

“With all due respect to Tom Wilson, he is fighting a tough fight in a Blue State using a worn out, failed strategy. We need some new blood, with different ideas to come to the table and lead us to victory next year,” said Mecca.

LESS INSULATED

More importantly, said Mecca, the Republican Party at all levels need to become less insulated. “There is virtually no effort to invite new people into the party’s decision-making process. This has become a party of insiders working only for insiders. We can’t win elections like that.” Ramaglia and co chairs Ann Marie Pusterla and Robert Fass of Wayne, say GOP Strong is one of the few new Republican groups that is working hard to attract new members and offer new ideas. “The leadership in Passaic County is failing to win elections because it is not successful in building the party by addressing important issues and bringing new people into the organization,” said Fass, a business owner. “There is no effort to focus on new approaches to business issues, or housing, or property tax issues at either the county or state level. There is no effort to update communication technology so we can talk to more people. The GOP needs people with new approaches to old problems,” added Fass. Pusterla said the party needs to become a team. “I do not get the feeling from the state or county GOP that I am part of a team working for a common goal. We need a team approach to be successful.”

HORATIO can be reached via email at thom55@verizon.net.

Related topics: GOP STRONG; RAMAGLIA, MECCA, Pennachio, Wilson