Ben Focarino

It's hard to tell whether Rob Ortiz really is the favorite contender for Bergen County GOP Chairman.

Among the 75 of supporters named on Ortiz’s website are some pretty powerful local Republicans like state Senate nominee Kevin O’Toole, Assemblyman David Russo, Assembly nominee Scott Rumana and former Bergen County Executive Pat Schuber.

But Ortiz’s two opponents for the volunteer post, Bill Thomson and Ben Focarino, won’t divulge who’s supporting their campaigns.

Bergen County Republicans will meet on Monday, July 23 to elect a new County Chairman to succeed Guy Talarico, who resigned the day after the June GOP primary.  Attorney Rob Ortiz, Bergenfield GOP Chairman Ben Focarino, and former New Jersey Christian Coalition President Bill Thomson are competing for the post.

With the election tentatively set for July 24th, Robert Ortiz, a 35-year-old lawyer from Ridgewood and a Republican fundraiser, is facing longtime Bergen County Republicans Ben Focarino, 64, and Bill Thompson, 57.

All three candidates to be the county’s new Republican Chairman agree on one fundamental issue: the party is in a rut, with nowhere to go but up. But just who can bring the party farther up is where they disagree – whether the party needs an insider who has proved his loyalty over the years, or a young, relative newcomer who can infuse new blood into a desperate party.

Robert OrtizRobert Ortiz has officially entered the race for Bergen County GOP Chairman.

Ortiz, a lawyer from Ridgewood, has built up a reputation as a successful Republican fundraiser. And at the age of 35, Republicans are hoping that a young leader with fresh ideas can revive Bergen County party.

“I think at this point we are at the bottom of the barrel, and what I’m trying to do is show that we’re going to have a different face for the party now and we’re going to start fresh – new ideas, new ways of doing things,” said Ortiz. “I want to put a good team together of leaders all across the county.”