No easy peace in Passaic

By Matt Friedman | June 10th, 2009 - 10:02am
| More

Bringing peace to the Passaic County Regular Republican Organization (PCRRO) will not be easy, despite Chairman Scott Rumana's cruise to reelection last night.  

Michael Mecca, who co-chairs the Passaic County Republican splinter group GOP Strong, reacted skeptically today to Chairman Scott Rumana’s offer to explore the possibility of setting up a co-chairmanship.

“Actions are louder than words and we’ll see what happens, but there has been no outreach to us since the election. It’s up to him now to reach to us and we’ll consider all,” said Michael Mecca, who co-chairs GOP Strong.  

Rumana easily beat Totowa Attorney Carl Mazzie last night, getting 234 votes to Mazzie’s 122.  Although Mazzie swore off loyalty to either faction, much of his base of support last night came from GOP Strong.

Rumana's victory came just a week after he  fended off a challenge to his assembly seat by Republican fundraiser Joseph Caruso and businessman Anthony Rottino, who had the support of GOP Strong but bristled at a controversial mailer the group issued against Rumana.

Despite Rumana’s strong showing last night, Mecca indicated that his group has no intention of going away, and argued that much of the chairman's support came from cities  that have a lot of county committee members but usually vote Democrat in the general election.

“We feel good. Our organization is as strong as ever. Scott did win the chairmanship, but in towns like Paterson and Passaic.  Granted he won his hometown of Wayne,” said Mecca.  “We won two legislative districts, a county clerk seat, council seats off the line.  So we feel very, very good about what we’ve done and will continue to aid the Republican party on to victory in the November elections.’

Huh?

It’s up to him now to reach to us and we’ll consider all,” said Michael Mecca, who co-chairs GOP Strong.

I think all the fumes and chemicals at the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission where Mecca works must be getting to him. This is like the Germans announcing that it was up the Allied forces to come to them with some offers after their surrender. Mike, you guys lost. It's up to YOU to step forward and join the winning team. Put your ego aside and do the right thing.

Wake-Up Call

Morning News Digest: February 9, 2010

Garden State Equality fires new broadside at Dems Smarting over the state Senate's refusal to pass marriage equality and disillusioned at the moment with the Democratic Party majority, Garden State Equality’s 85-member Board of Directors unanimously decided against giving financial contributions to political parties and their affiliated committees. ...

Wally Edge

As the new administration looks to reorganize the embattled Passaic Valley Sewerage Authority (PVSA), watch for at least two part-time $53,420-a-year lawyers to be on the termination short list: James Piro, a former Essex County GOP Chairman and...
The brother of U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone has announced his candidacy for the Long Branch City Council.  John Pallone, who served as a Councilman from 1990 to 1994, said today that he would run with David Brown, the former Roselle Business...
A handwritten note left behind during a Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee meeting indicates that Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen) would support a plan to require all current public employees to contribute at least 1.5% of...
As New Jersey braces for another snowstorm, noteworthy is Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo’s website, where residents can use “Snow Plow Sal” to monitor the movements of snow plows to determine when their street will be plowed.  Hamilton also has...
Just before leaving the Senate Presidency, Richard Codey (D-Roseland) appointed Orange Mayor Eldridge Hawkins to the Congressional Redistricting Commission.  Now his successor, Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) is considering making his own...

Contributors

Everybody needs to start a new job with a list of priorities and Chris Christie is no exception. There might be a thousand things that need to get done... more »
A new Governor and Legislature offer the perfect opportunity to re-think the Trenton status quo and for experienced observers and practitioners to offer their best ideas on improving the... more »
 I grew up in a neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey where gambling was part of every day life.  Many of my relatives gambled.  The guys gambled on games, and... more »
Due to a highly inappropriate breach of etiquette by President Barack Obama in his State of the Union Address, the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United... more »
When life is bad---natural disasters, families losing homes or jobs, an attack on our country, health crises--people come together and do things that are inspiringly good.  After the... more »
Our new Governor suffers from no lack of advice.  Much of it, contained in the transition reports, deserves prompt attention.  Obviously, economic prosperity benefits everyone, and – as... more »
The agenda has been ambitious.Jobs.  Homeland security.  Iraq.  Afghanistan.  Healthcare.  Energy.  Banking.   Taken together, the Obama Presidency has all the makings of a compelling story -- action, adventure, emotion,... more »
The new regime pushes the only conservative off the Budget Committee.   This is a direct result of pressure from a certain Republican County Chairperson who was hired by Garden... more »
Now that  the dust has finally settled after the grueling campaign for governor, there are a number of lessons that we can draw from this election. First and... more »
A  few years ago, my brother Paul gave me a birthday present of Tim Russert’s book, The Wisdom of Our Fathers. Great book. Read it cover to cover. Or skim... more »
New Jersey's spending and borrowing spree over the past three decades is coming home to roost.  State debt has increased 700% under both Republican and Democratic administrations, and spending... more »
On January 11th New Jersey’s 213th Legislature ended its session, followed the next day by the commencement of the 214th Legislature, with newly elected officials being sworn into office,... more »
On January 6, 2010, several newspapers published articles with titles like “no more aid for struggling cities”, “Christie will cut state aid” and the like; furthermore, in the body... more »
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, you target teachers. That’s not a positive note to start your tenure. You forget that the Teachers’ Union makes decisions on its own, such... more »