ROONEY & VANDERVALK ARE ENCOURAGED BY SIGNS THE CORZINE ADMINISTRATION IS NO LONGER SUGARCOATING THE FACTS ABOUT NJ’S POOR BUSINESS CLIMATE

Governor’s Economic Growth Chief Now Admits It Will Take ‘Years’ To Improve State’s Business Appeal

Assemblyman John Rooney and Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk today welcomed an admission by Gary Rose, Governor Corzine’s point man on economic growth strategies, that New Jersey has a poor business reputation because honesty is a necessary first step on the road to recovery.

The Republican legislators representing District 39 cited a report in today’s edition of the Asbury Park Press in which Rose said improving the state’s poor business reputation will require years of work. But he said reversing the trend is essential otherwise New Jersey will continue to lose companies and skilled workers to lower-cost states. Rose made the remarks at a forum sponsored New Jersey Leadership, a nonprofit organization that provides leadership training.

“Six years of tax increases by the Democrats who control the Legislature have taken a heavy toll,” said Rooney. “Businesses and taxpayers alike are beating a path out of New Jersey to states with more tax-friendly climates. The evidence that the tax-and-spend policies of the current and prior Democratic administrations have inflicted major damage to our economy can no longer be denied, even by the governor’s own business czar. The doctor’s diagnosis is correct. But I am skeptical whether the doctor can heal himself.”

ROONEY & VANDERVALK RECEIVE SIERRA CLUB ENDORSEMENT IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP

The Sierra Club, one of the nation’s leading champions of environmental protection and preservation, has endorsed the re-election bids of Assemblyman John Rooney and Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk, Republicans representing the 39th Legislative District.

ROONEY SAYS TAXPAYERS

WON’T GET REAL ETHICS REFORM FROM

BOSS-CONTROLLED DEMOCRATS

Republican Assemblyman John Rooney today questioned how his Democratic challengers could credibly claim to be proponents of tougher ethical standards for public officials and cleaner government when they are being financed by the same political bosses who have blocked or opposed every truly comprehensive reform measure.

“The taxpayers shouldn’t expect Esther Fletcher and Carl Manna to rock the boat when their champions are Bergen County Boss Joe Ferriero, who wanted to go to court to preserve the corrupt practice of pay-to-play, and state party chieftain Joe Cryan, who has actually sponsored legislation to gut the weak pay-to-play law we have now,” said Rooney, who is running with Republican Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk in the 39th Legislative District.

ROONEY AND VANDERVALK SAY REBATES HAVEN’T STOPPED BERGEN TAXPAYERS FROM LOSING GROUND IN THE WAR ON PROPERTY TAXES

Republican Assemblyman John Rooney and Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk say figures show the average Bergen County taxpayer is losing ground in the war on high property taxes, even with this year’s rebate checks.

ROONEY AND VANDERVALK CALL FOR FEDERAL PROBE OF ENCAP DEBACLE AND QUICK COMPLETION, RELEASE OF STATE INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT Republican Assemblyman John Rooney and Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk today joined calls for a federal investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office into the failed EnCap project in the Meadowlands that has cost the taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and resulted in severe environmental damage.

It's put up or shut up time for Bergen County Republican Chairman Rob Ortiz.

Insiders say that Ortiz was elected County Chairman last summer to replace Guy Talarico mainly because of his self proclaimed skills as a uber fundraiser. He boasted of raising funds for state and national candidates and of being a member of the New Jersey State Republican Committee Chairman's Club (although it turned out he hadn't paid his $1,000 initiation fee). The party faithful took Ortiz seriously, and candidates for county and local office eagerly awaited the flow of campaign funds for the first time in years. (Kathleen Donovan's primary campaign for county executive in 2006 raised more money than the county organization raised in two full years).

There were a few jabs in the 39th district Assembly debate this evening at Bergen County Community College, but it was positively civil compared to what turned out to be a row between Democratic State Senate candidate Joe Ariyan and incumbent Sen. Gerald Cardindale.

The two Senate candidates sparred about what it means to be friends with Dick Codey, corruption, stem cell research, wheeling of campaign funds, and accepting trips to Florida paid for by the banking industry.

There was an awkward moment at the Dumont Street Festival today.

Democratic Assembly candidate Carl Manna was walking along Madison Avenue with a couple supporters when he ran into his opponents, State Sen. Gerald Cardinale and Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk, surrounded by an entourage of four youth wearing red campaign shirts.

“Sen. Cardinale! Welcome to Dumont,” said Manna, reaching out to shake the incumbents’ hands.

“Glad to see you’re out working,” responded Cardinale.

Former First Lady Mary Jo Codey doesn't get involved in many political campaigns -- it's been about two years since she went stumping for candidates.  But last night, Codey went to Bergen County to headline a fundraising event for River Edge Councilwoman Esther Fletcher, one of the Democratic Assembly candidate in the 39th district against incumbents Charlotte Vandervalk and John Rooney.  Also in attendance: Freeholder Connie Wagner, who just won the Democratic nomination for Bob Gordon's open Assembly seat in the 38th.

The District 39 Republicans’ first television advertisement has raised the ire of their Democratic opponents.

The ad, which is currently airing, insinuates that Democratic state Senate candidate Joe Ariyan received three appointed public jobs after donating thousands of dollars to Democratic candidates. Ariyan is Bergen County’s Public Advocate for Land Use, a public defender in Hillside and commissioner of the Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority.

“Joe Ariyan gave tens of thousands of dollars in political contributions then got 3 taxpayer paid jobs,” said the ad. “Pay to play contributions?”