Guy Talarico

Rob Ortiz was widely viewed as a rising star in New Jersey politics in June 2007 when the political newcomer won 57% of the vote in his bid for Bergen County GOP Chairman after Guy Talarico stepped down one year early.  The 35-year-old lawyer was a fundraiser for Rudy Giuliani – at the time the front runner for the Republican presidential nomination – and Bergen Republicans, down on Talarico and anxious to restore their former days of glory, saw Ortiz as a bright light for their future.  But one year later, Ortiz is the underdog as he fights to win his first full two-year term as BCRO Chairman.

The Bergen County Republican Organization reports that for the first time in almost five years, they will begin the campaign cycle with no debt. That’s a feather in the cap of Robert Ortiz, who became County Chairman last June after the embattled Guy Talarico resigned. The BCRO is pledging to mount the “largest countywide campaign in recent memory” as they seek to re-elect County Clerk Kathleen Donovan and compete for three seats on the Board of Freeholders.

As the dust settles in Bergen County and the political parties spin the election results, you can expect to hear the Republicans talking a lot about Rutherford.

It’s where Republican challenger John Hipp trampled Democratic incumbent Mayor Bernadette McPherson -- beating her by a margin of 2-1, and tying the council 3-3, with two Republican candidates ousting incumbent Democrats.

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).

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.

In a Letter to the Editor published by The Record on Sunday, former Bergen County Republican Chairman Guy Talarico denied any role in a controversial campaign mailer in the 40th district State Senate primary that compared Kevin O'Toole to the Rev. Al Sharpton.  Talarico, who resigned the day after the primary, backed Todd Caliguire for the Senate seat.

This song parody was submitted by a reader, who asked to remain anonymous:

Sung to the tune of “MY GUY” by Mary Wells

Nothing you can say will make us want you to stay, so Bye Guy….Bye Guy
Nothing you can do cause it’s clear you’re through, so Bye Guy …Bye Guy
You’ve spent all your time doing nothing but whining
Now finally at last you…are resigning

As a matter of opinion we’re at an all time low

Guy Talarico’s resignation was pleasant news for many Bergen County Republicans.

The loss of Todd Caliguire in a State Senate primary last night was widely considered the last straw for Talarico’s four-year chairmanship.

He’s left behind a county party that many local Republicans consider to be broke and in shambles, having spent considerable dollars fighting primary battles – with no money left to take on the Democrats.

Now the question of a replacement, which has been bandied about hypothetically for months, is real.

Guy Talarico announced today that he is retiring as Bergen County Republican Chair.

“I’m proud of my record and the advancements we have made,” he said in a statement. “I have decided that it is time for someone else to take the helm.”