Alan Marcus

Some Bergen County Republican leaders have asked County Clerk Kathleen Donovan to enter the race for County Executive. Todd Caliguire, a former Bergen County Freeholder who sought the GOP nomination for Governor in 2005, is the only Republican seeking to oppose incumbent Dennis McNerney. He has the support of Bergen GOP Chairman Guy Talarico, which has caused some Republican opposed to Talarico's re-election to shop for a new candidate. Talarico is being challenged for re-election by Alan Marcus, a veteran lobbyist who served as Bergen GOP Executive Director in 1968 and 1969, and by Bill Thomson, the former Chairman of the New Jersey Christian Coalition and campaign manager for Bob Schroeder's '05 gubernatorial bid. Donovan, a former Assemblyman and GOP State Chairwoman, ran for County Executive in 2002 and lost a party convention to State Senator Henry McNamara.

Bergen County Republicans seem to assume that Guy Talarico will not seek re-election as GOP County Chairman, although he has not yet made a formal announcement. Two candidates are already actively courting County Committee members for votes: Alan Marcus, a successful lobbyist and public relations executive who served as Executive Director of the Bergen GOP in 1968 and 1969; and William Thomson, the former Chairman of the New Jersey Christian Coalition and campaign manager of Robert Schroeder's 2005 gubernatorial bid. Thomson entered the race this week with an announcement letter to Republican leaders. Marcus' unexpected candidacy seems to have generated some enthusiasm, especially from Republicans anxious to benefit from Marcus' fundraising skills.

Veteran lobbyist Alan Marcus has approached some Republican leaders about running for Bergen County Republican Chairman. His Op-Ed on recent failures by the Bergen GOP attracted considerable notice earlier this month, and County Committee members received a follow up letter from Marcus over the weekend. Marcus began his political career as Executive Director of the Republican Organization in 1968 and 1969, and was 21-years-old when he became Assembly Clerk in 1969. He has since built a successfull public affairs and advertising firm, The Marcus Group. The incumbent is Guy Talarcico, a former Assemblyman; some GOP insiders speculate that he won't seek re-election to another term in June.