June 11, 2008 - 4:14pm
News

Ortiz and Yudin hustle for votes in Bergen GOP chairman runoff

Bergen County Republican Chairman Rob Ortiz and challenger Bob Yudin are furiously working the phones today in preparation for Tuesday’s runoff election for the party’s top seat.

The key to winning the chairmanship will be to appeal to the 115 voters who supported Ben Focarino last night before he was knocked out of the race. But, due to a rule reversal, Ortiz and Yudin will also have the opportunity to appeal to voters who missed last night’s election.

That has renewed controversy over whether or not to allow those who didn’t vote last night to vote next Tuesday.

When the results were read last night, Election Committee Chairwoman Patricia DiCostanzo announced that Tuesday’s runoff would be restricted to last night’s voters.

That first upset Yudin, who objected to it before acquiescing a few minutes later, while Ortiz’s supporters agreed with it.

But that ruling was apparently reversed this morning by Ortiz, allowing all county committee voters to participate.

“There was confusion as to what was decided, and the last thing we want to do is disenfranchise committee people,” said Ortiz. “They did not get notice tonight that if they didn’t show up they would have the opportunity to participate in a runoff.”

Today, Yudin said that he’ll accept the new decision, but wasn’t happy about the frequently changing rules.

“The only question I throw out there is why do they keep changing the rules?” said Yudin. “I can only surmise that it’s really disingenuous on their part, and that they’re changing the rules for what they think is best for their side.”

Although Yudin doesn’t plan to challenge the decision, state Sen. Gerald Cardinale said that he’s not so sure he wants to leave the issue alone.

“What’s happening today I find is an obscenity,” he said. “Obviously the chairman understands that if he abides by the rules he can’t win. I don’t know if that’s going to end up in court or where it’s going to wind up…. I know many of the people who supported Focarino have told me that on the second ballot they’re supporting Yudin.”

Senator Cardinale has played a significant role on Yudin’s behalf, despite staying neutral in the chairman race last year. Cardinale downplays his influence, saying that all he did was write a letter for Yudin, but he has sway over many of his legislative districts’ county committee people.

Some insiders say that Cardinale is backing Yudin to re-exert influence that has disappeared under Ortiz’s reign. Cardinale, who is not a county committee member, said that he only got involved with the party to keep it from being evicted from its headquarters in 2006, and that former Chairman Guy Talarico often disagreed with him. But he was upset by what he saw as a small inner-circle around Ortiz, and likes Yudin’s promise to take leave of his appliance store business to become a full-time chairman.

“It’s not anything to do with my personal influence over party policy. It is, I think, a disaster to have this little closed circle,” he said. “I think you need to have as wide a circle as possible.”

The election is also influenced by two Essex County politicians: former Assemblyman Paul DiGaetano on Yudin’s end, and state Sen. Kevin O’Toole for Ortiz.

DiGaetano, who supported Ortiz last year, said that he does not view the election as another spat in the frayed relationship between himself and O’Toole.

“I don’t consider it a battle of me and Kevin O’Toole in any way, shape or form other than that we’re supporting different candidates,” he said.

O’Toole agreed, but lamented the constant infighting in Republican organizations.

“The Republicans are famous when they’re in the minority for fighting amongst themselves over scraps of nothing,” he said.

While Yudin supporters see the Focarino vote as likely to break their way – noting that the majority of last night’s vote went against Ortiz – Ortiz said that it was not necessarily bad news for him

“At the end of the day, I think that the people who voted for Ben weren’t necessarily anti-me,” he said. “They were pro-Ben. And knowing that it’s Bob and myself now, I think they will come my way.”

Focarino is not likely to stay neutral, however. He plans to make an endorsement by tomorrow afternoon.

Matt Friedman is a PolitickerNJ.com Reporter and can be reached via email at matt@politicsnj.com.

Comments

Chairman Ortiz, it is time to resign!


Can Senator O'Toole suggest that to Chairman Ortiz so that we do not have to “fight[ing] amongst [ourselves]themselves over scraps of nothing”? Apparently, it is not nothing for Ortiz and his main backer Senator O'Toole. However, what is it that they so badly want? After yesterday's disaster vote, embarrassed Ortiz should resign and Senator O'Toole should apologize to Bergen CC for his actions.

06/11/08 9:27 pm

Right on Wiel


I agree that Ortiz should resign. He can't help a party that won't help itself.  Let Yudin be the final nail and we'll see what someday rises from ashes.

06/11/08 5:25 pm

silliness


I don't know what these people are talking about in terms of this notorious inner circle. I've seen no evidence of it. Sounds like something concocted to sound vaguely sinister with no real basis.  I haven't seen anyone clamoring to be involved who has been turned away.

Ortiz is as accessible as any chairman I've seen an i've seen a lot.  15 years ago, you needed an engraved invitation to actually talk to the chairman.

It also got me thinking, who is Yudin's inner circle?  In recent days he's started keeping company with The Ajjan/Sabrin gang.  Otherwise, he rolls with his cronies from the Talarico days.  Apparently Bob wil be getting his advice either from the people who spent the better part of the past year attacking and trying to destroy the BCRO, or the crew who spent the previous 5 years turning the organization into the smoldering crater it had become at the end of the Talarico days.  Either way it's not good.

I also think it's funny that Yudin has imagined some sinister motive now that Ortiz has done exactly what Yudin had asked to be done.  Is it me or does it seem that Bob isn't happy unless he is complaining about something?

06/11/08 9:43 pm

i don't understand the Senator's concern


The decision seems to give Yudin exactly what he asked for. How can that be spun as Ortiz trying to give himself an advantage?

06/12/08 9:33 am

inner circle growing smaller


Yes the inner circle is getting smaller and smaller. Caruso has even left the inner circle. All thats left is a bunch of rich kids from Upper Saddle River.

06/12/08 10:00 am

Yudins inner circle ?


is getting huge now 266 and growing every day

06/12/08 10:10 am

All quiet on the Ortiz blogging front


They must be working the phones or trying to fill spots to get extra votes.

06/13/08 9:21 am

It's in the Record, so it must be true!


Quote of the Day June 16, 2008 "No one can question our bipartisan reach." -- Scarinci & Hollenbeck's Donald Scarinci, on the election of partner Joe Oxley as the Monmouth County Republican Chairman. Another partner, Joseph Ferriero, is the Bergen County Democratic Chairman. -The Record, 06/16/08

We need more activists and less attorneys/lobbyists.  The BCRO County Committee members clearly understand this.

06/16/08 12:57 pm

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