GOP STRONG  Fighting For Republican Victories Mike Mecca -201-852-1067                                                               Mike Ramaglia 201-697-7699                                                 November 19 2008  Record on Issues is Abysmal  PASSAIC COUNTY -- New Jersey Assemblyman and Passaic County Republican Party Chairman Scott Rumana is too preoccupied with the ghosts of chairmen past to do either of his jobs properly, say leaders of the Republican political action group GOP Strong.   An article published yesterday on Politickernj.com about a possible opponent to Rumana in the Assembly Republican primary election next June, caused Rumana to lash out at Peter Murphy, the former county Republican chairman – rather than address issues raised by his possible challenger, Joseph Caruso of Wayne.   Michael Ramaglia, a GOP Strong co-chair, says Rumana’s vengeful attack on Caruso and Murphy highlights why the assemblyman might be challenged. “Mr. Rumana is haunted by the ghost of Peter Murphy and is not doing his job as either assemblyman or as chairman very well,” said Ramaglia. “He would rather fight the ghost of Peter Murphy than fight Democrats.” “If Joe Caruso or anyone challenges Rumana; it will because he is doing a bad job in Trenton and as county chairman. Peter Murphy is not running for anything, yet Mr. Rumana continues to be preoccupied with old battles and his desperate attempt to cling to power,” said Ramaglia. Ramaglia said as chairman, Rumana has done an especially bad job promoting the party and its candidates and fighting Democrat initiatives in Trenton. He said this year’s GOP freeholder team was badly underfunded and was never given the resources to mount a serious challenge to the Democrats - -who have an abysmal record on taxes.    “While the GOP candidates went under-funded, Rumana has been busy raising money for himself for his re-election bid next year,” added Ramaglia.“The perception is that Scott Rumana is worried only about Scott Rumana’s future – not the success of the county Republicans.” FAILURE TO SUPPORT McCAIN  Former Passaic County Republican Chairman and GOP Strong co-chair Michael Mecca said Rumana’s self obsession with his own future was evident in the presidential election where Rumana failed to issue a single press release from the county organization endorsing john McCain and Sarah Palin.   Where were the chairman’s statements urging voters to support McCain? Where were his attacks on the socialist programs of Barack Obama? They were nowhere,” said Mecca.   “Our Republican chairman was afraid to endorse the McCain Team because he was worried about his own political future,” added Mecca.He was concerned that if McCain lost, his Democrat challengers would use his support of McCain against him in next year’s Assembly race. It’s pitiful for a Republican leader to have so little courage and so little commitment  Mecca said the election results show that Republicans under-performed in some key areas such as Wayne, Rumana’s home town   “The votes show there was no effort by Mr. Rumana to turn out a vote for McCain and Palin. And that lack of effort hurt candidates down ballot,” added Mecca.   GOP Strong co-chair Robert Fass said Rumana’s record as an Assemblyman is abysmal – especially the assemblyman’s failure to fight state affordable housing mandates or to fight for less business regulation and more education aid for the 40th District.   COAH STANCE   “Mr. Rumana says he is proud of his record on COAH (the Council on Affordable Housing). Is he kidding? What is there to be proud of? He supports the mandates. He’s never said that these mandates are wrong.  All he’s done is put his name on a piece of meaningless legislation that will go nowhere,” said Fass   This week two state senators and a coalition of environmental groups have separately asked Gov. Jon Corzine to delay the December 31 deadline for towns to file their plans to provide affordable housing, noted Ramaglia. But Rumana is not among that group.   “Towns in North Jersey are going to face a huge battle over building of high density; low income housing that will raise property taxes and erode the value of existing homes. Yet, Scott Rumana is absent from the fight to stop COAH.   “That’s typical of Mr. Rumana. He never takes a tough position. He never takes a strong stance against big government mandates. He never stands up for taxpayers and homeowners because he is afraid the liberals will criticize him,” said Ramaglia.   “And he wonders why conservative Republicans believe he should be challenged.”