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Financial services executive and Republican activist Joe Caruso begins his primary campaign tomorrow night

Calling District 40's current Republican representation in Trenton “weak,” Republican activist Joe Caruso will formally kick off his primary challenge against Assemblymen Scott Rumana (R-Wayne) and Dave Russo (R-Ridgewood) tomorrow.

Caruso, who’s from Wayne, will run with Franklin Lakes resident Anthony Rottino, a businessman who owns two Harley-Davison dealerships and part of a Gold’s Gym.  Rottino has never sought elected office before.  The two appear to be mounting a challenge to the right of Rumana and Russo, who are both considered moderate.  

Caruso and Rottino will make their announcement on Thursday at 7p.m. at the Packanack Lake Clubhouse in Wayne, which they say is intended to send a “message to the establishment Republicans in Trenton.”

“Trenton’s legislators have created a state that punishes success and rewards dependency on government,” said Caruso in a statement.  “It is time for professional politicians to move aside and give experienced business people a chance to lead. Anthony and I will help shape a business environment that leads to the creation of well paying jobs.”

Anthony Rottino, a 42-year-old businessman from Franklin Lakes, is expected to seek the Republican nomination for State Assembly in the 40th district.  Rottino and running mate Joseph Caruso will challenge the two GOP incumbents, Assemblymen David Russo (R-Ridgewood) and Scott Rumana (R-Wayne).

Rottino owns real estate and insurance firms, as well as two Harley-Davidson dealerships and the new Gold's Gym in Teterboro.

"As a business owner, I can attest to the fact that operating a successful business in New Jersey is very difficult. There is too much regulation, too many costs," Rottino said.  "Only by stripping away needless government programs and layers of regulation that punish hard working taxpayers and entrepreneurs can New Jersey once again become a vibrant and affordable state."

Republican fundraiser Joseph Caruso said today that he's "99 percent" sure he's going to mount a primary campaign for a 40th District assembly seat, although pushback from Republican leaders has frustrated his time table.

Caruso said that it's most likely a go if he can get $50,000 on hand by the middle of February, and plans a cocktail reception at his Wayne home this weekend to help meet that goal.

"I'm still doing what I was doing before - seeing how much money I can raise, how much support I can get on the ground, and just really digging through the numbers and making sure it's feasible," he said.  " I'm pretty much there.  I thought I would have more time than I have.

At a packed meeting of the county committee tonight in the Franklin Lakes Firehouse, Bergen County Republican Party Chairman Bob Yudin endorsed incumbent District 40 Assemblymen Scott Rumana and David C. Russo.

Earlier today, Yudin told PolitickerNJ.com that prior to Feb. 2nd he would make a decision about whether he would back the incumbents or candidates backed by former chair Peter Murphy, an ally of former Assembly Majority Leader Paul DiGaetano (R-Passaic).

Tonight, Yudin announced that decision in what was a victory for current Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany-Troy Hills), who had feared a primary battle fueled by Yudin's support of candidates other than Rumana and Russo.

Oakland Mayor John Szabo is backing Assemblyman Scott Rumana for re-election. Szabo is also the Township Planner for Wayne, where Rumana was mayor.

All politics is local, and all local politics is business.  That’s one way to explain the intensity of support for Assemblyman Scott Rumana in Oakland, one of the Bergen County towns in the 40th legislative district.  Oakland Mayor John Szabo is the full-time planning director for the Township of Wayne.  Rumana, the Passaic County Republican Chairman, is the former Mayor of Wayne and wields considerable influence in local politics. 

For the last couple weeks, Passaic County has buzzed with talk of Republican activist Joe Caruso mounting an Assembly primary bid to take down incumbent Scott Rumana (R-Wayne).

Reached for comment today, Caruso downplayed the prospect but did not rule it out entirely.

"Not to bloat my own ego, but I have too many ideas I want to share with the state, and to go into a position in the Assembly, my first question is what can you do to affect change as an assemblyman?," said Caruso, a Passaic County native who heads up the finance wing of the Republican Party in neighboring Bergen County and runs a finance firm.

If Caruso does decide to run, however, he will limit his campaign to targeting Rumana, and not Assemblyman Dave Russo (R-Ridgewood), who he described as a "gentleman."

If Republicans Scott Garrett, Christopher Myers and Leonard Lance win hotly contested House races next week, it is unlikely that Democrats would invest heavily in these traditionally GOP districts again in 2010.  But Democratic victories would make these districts battlegrounds in the 2010 mid-term elections.

If Garrett survives -- Politicker.com's The Pindell Report has the seat as Leans Republican -- he'll have a firm lock on the 5th district seat until at least 2012, when mapmakers draw new congressional districts.  But if blind Rabbi Dennis Shulman upsets Garrett, he'd immediately become one of the nation's most vulnerbale Democratic Congressmen. There is already talk among some Bergen County Republicans that Assemblyman David Russo would enter the race to challenge Shulman in 2010.  Russo sought the seat six years ago when Marge Roukema retired and lost to Garrett 45%-24% after splitting the Bergen GOP vote with State Sen. Gerald Cardinale.

District 40 Assemblyman David Russo argues that Sen. John McCain has the most foreign policy experience.

The Record has endorsed Kevin O'Toole for State Senate, Assemblyman David Russo for re-election to the Assembly, and Scott Rumana for O'Toole's open Assembly seat.  READ

So far, Democrats haven’t seemed anxious to field and financially support a real challenger to Rep. E. Scott Garrett. But amongst Republicans, there’s discontent with Garrett brewing just beneath the surface of the fifth congressional district.

Some complain of Garrett’s steadfast conservative ideological commitment which has led to cast votes against bills considered no-brainers to Democrats and more moderate Republicans. Whether this is a strength or weakness is up for debate, however.