Alan Marcus

A pair of Republicans involved in the 2008 campaign in Bergen County seem to have different views on how the campaign was run, and how they should be run in the future. Alan Marcus, a public relations executive and former Bergen County GOP Executive Director who worked on Kathleen Donovan's successful re-election campaign for County Clerk, wrote an Op-Ed for The Record last week criticizing the failed Republican Freeholder candidates for running almost exclusively on the reform issue and talking about indicted Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero. Ferriero, Marcus says, "is known to a minute segment of the population." Marcus also beat up on U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett, saying he didn't appeal to votes outside his conservative base.

On Sunday, Republican political consultant David Murray, who worked for the GOP Freeholder candidates, wrote a Letter to the Editor taking issue with Marcus' comments. He says that while Donovan's win was impressive, it was largely due to name identification and not any groundbreaking targeting or strategies.

Former State Sen. Ned J. Parsekian (1921-2008)Ned J. Parsekian, who passed away on Monday, only served two years as a state Senator.

But those who remember Parsekian recall an independent, vocal liberal whose political career was shortened by the circumstances of the times, and whose life-long designs on the governor’s office may have been thwarted by his outspoken stands against politics as usual.

Elected to the Senate in 1965, Parsekian lost just two years later, when an anti-Democratic wave related to voter disenchantment over their creation of a state sales tax and a general feeling of dismay over the Vietnam War knocked many Democrats out of office.

Richard Aregood, a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial page editor of the Star-Ledger and the Philadelphia Daily News, has joined The Marcus Group as Senior Vice President, Communications. The firm is headed by Alan Marcus, a former Clerk of the New Jerey State Assembly and Executive Director of the Bergen County Republican Organization.

CALIGUIRE CALLS ON DONOVAN TO FIRE HER CAMPAIGN MANAGER AND DISAVOW ENDORSEMENT OF RENEGADE BOGOTA COUNCILMAN

Watch the Debate and see for yourself... seeing is believing

Contact: Alan Marcus 201-902-9000 May, 22 2006

Mark Twain once said: At least get the facts straight before you set out to distort them. Mr. Twain would certainly not be happy if he read Todd Caliguire's recent press releases. Why? He is either lying or wasn't listening when he debated Kathe Donovan on "On The Record" this weekend.

Todd:

If you want to learn about responsibly addressing overdevelopment in a meaningful way I would refer you to the press release issued and posted by The Donovan Team on May 10 and headlined: Donovan, Randall and Trawinski Will Use Regulatory Authority to Block Overdevelopment in Bergen.

Kathe Donovan has always been an advocate for the Bergen communities which are included in the meadowlands district. She represented many of those communities as a member of the General Assembly. Her commitment to the meadowlands is probably best reflected by the near unanimous support she and the entire Donovan Team have received from elected officials and Republican Party leaders from throughout that region extending from Lyndhurst all the way to Hasbrouck Heights.

As to your references to my so called friendship with Mr. DeCotiis, I do not recall even speaking with him during, minimally, the past five years.

Alan C. Marcus

CALIGUIRE BLASTS McNERNEY FOR FAILING
TO PROTECT RESIDENTS FROM ENCAP DEAL
McNerney Sitting On The Sidelines
While Donovan B
ows To Marcus’s Wishes

"The Democrat controlled County of Bergen has failed the people of North Arlington, Lyndhurst and Rutherford on the EnCap project� said Caliguire, who joined a North Arlington rally opposing the EnCap plan in March.

“It is disappointing that Kathe Donovan lacks the integrity to stand up to her boss, Alan Marcus and fight for the people of the meadowlands region,� added Caliguire.

DONOVAN WILL JOIN WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS TO BLOCK ADDITIONAL FLIGHTS OVER BERGEN COUNTY

For Immediate Release: May 18, 2006
Contact: Alan C. Marcus 201-902-9000

Kathleen Donovan, Republican candidate for County Executive, has told the Federal Aviation Administration that she will work with local officials "to develop legal and other strategies to block any regulation proposed by the FAA which threatens the health and safety of local residents."

Moratorium would cover similar large-scale developments in Bergen County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: DANIEL MILLER // 201-394-7641

HACKENSACK - Bergen County Republican Organization endorsed candidate for County Executive, Todd Caliguire, has called for a moratorium on large-scale development throughout Bergen County, such as the EnCap project, and called on his two liberal opponents - Kathe Donovan and Dennis McNerney to join him.

"The EnCap project will increase local property taxes, increase traffic congestion, mandates low income housing units and now will require eminent domain abuse to accomplish its goals. This project needs to be halted," said Caliguire.

"It is clear that public officials who have supported EnCap have failed to take account of the true costs to the local communities. Therefore, I believe that intensive state, county and local reviews, with local input should occur before any further action takes place on this project."

The EnCap project, along with other development proposals in the Meadowlands region were initially sold as a panacea for old-growth, suburban South Bergen towns seeking to improve their communities and boost their ratables. However, the size and scope of the EnCap project has changed several times; most notably, high density housing units have been added to initial plans.

"This project is out of control. What was supposed to improve communities in South Bergen has morphed into something that is threatening to ruin them. It is clear that better oversight is required," Caliguire continued.

"I also believe each community in Bergen County should hold a referendum on large scale projects, particularly those requiring the use of eminent domain. The combination of over development and government taking of private property simply to pursue additional tax ratables is very dangerous to property owners. It is not just unfair, it is un-American and needs to stop," added Caliguire.

"While I am calling on my two opponents to join me, I doubt they will do so. Dennis McNerney and the Bergen Democratic Organization's pay-to-play operation is funded in no small part by these developers, while Kathe Donovan's chief political backer, Alan Marcus has long represented clients seeking to develop the Meadowlands. Neither one offers much hope to homeowners seeking relief from these abusive practices," stated Caliguire.

Bergen County Republicans are fighting over Ronald Reagan, with both sides invoking the name of the late 40th President on a nearly daily basis Republican County Chairman Guy Talarico has a new e-mail address -- Chairman@BCRO-ReaganTeam.us -- and a recent press releases titled "Returning to Reagan" and "The Reagan Republicans Speak Out" both featured large color photographs of the Gipper. Not to be outdone, the rival faction that is backing Kathleen Donovan for County Executive, has touted support from Thomas Bruinooge, who was the Co-Chairman of the 1980 Reagan campaign in New Jersey. And Talarico's rival in the June contest for County Chairman, Alan Marcus, may be the true Reagan heir: he wrote a personal check to the Reagan campaign before the contest for the '80 GOP nomination was over.