John Rooney

The New Jersey Education Association’s PAC played it pretty safe with its endorsements, choosing mostly incumbents. But in the 39th district, the union backed an entire slate of Democratic challengers against three Republican incumbents.

“We’re excited and proud that NJEA has agreed to endorse the full slate,” said Jennifer Chirco, the campaign manager for the 39th district Democrats. “We value the association and really appreciate them lending their support

The teachers’ union picked Democrat Joe Ariyan for state Senate, along with Esther Fletcher and Carl Manna for Assembly. Not getting the nod were state Sen. Gerald Cardinale, Assemblyman John Rooney and Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk.

Imagine this: it’s 2010, and Chris Christie has just been inaugurated as New Jersey’s new Republican Governor after defeating Jon Corzine in his reelection bid. Meanwhile in Washington, the United States Senate remains in Democrats’ tenuous grasp, with a one-seat majority.

Suddenly, one of New Jersey’s two Democratic Senators falls ill and steps down -- control of the Senate hangs in the balance. Should Governor Christie be required to appoint a Democrat as the Senator’s interim replacement, or should he be able to appoint anyone he wants, regardless of party affiliation?

Currently, state law would allow the Governor to appoint a Senator of his or her choice.

While few people want to speculate on a Senator’s illness or death, it’s a question that New Jersey Democrats may want to look into if they’re going to re-elect 83 1/2-year-old Frank Lautenberg -- who, according to an actuarial timetable from the Social Security Administration, can be expected to live just 5.29 years after he turns 85 during the first month of his next term.

FOR RELEASE: Immediate

DATE: 6/28/2007

CONTACT: Jennifer Chirco

In the once rock solid Republican Bergen County, the Democrats have a new target: the 39th district.

It may at first not seem like a realistic choice for a battle -- the district hasn’t had a Democratic state representative since 1981, and its three current Republican legislators have occupied their seats for a political eternity. State Senator Gerald Cardinale and Assemblyman John Rooney have both served for well over 20 years, and assembly woman Charlotte Vandervalk has served since 1991.

But the Democrats have put up new blood and are expected to throw some serious money into this race. Joe Ariyan, the state Senate candidate, is the county’s Public Advocate for Land Use and has never held a competitive elected office, but he clocks in at a relatively young age of 39 and is said to have already raised $140,000.

Rumors of the political demise of John Rooney and Charlotte Vandervalk were not to be.  After divisive Republican primaries for Bergen County Executive and Freeholder last spring (the incumbents backed the losing candidates), their were public threats on election night that the two veterans would find themselves in a 2007 primary fight.

ROONEY: EnCap LAND DEAL PROBE A PRIME EXAMPLE
OF THE NEED FOR A STATE COMPTROLLER WITH TEETH

As the state Inspector General begins an investigation into the EnCap land development deal at the Meadowlands, Assemblyman John Rooney today said this latest scandal is a prime example of why the watered-down state comptroller bill will be virtually useless.

The chances of a contested Republican primary for State Assembly in the 39th district increased dramatically last night when Assemblyman John Rooney lost his bid for re-election as the Mayor of Northvale. Rooney, who has been Mayor for 21 of the last 27 years, lost to Democratic Councilman John Hogan by 65 votes -- a 52%-48% margin. Some Republicans have been threatening a primary against the 67-year-old Rooney and 69-year-old Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk since the spring, when the two backed Kathleen Donovan over Todd Caliguire in a bitter primary for County Executive.

In 2005, Rooney and Vandervalk held off primary challenges from Upper Saddle River Mayor Kenneth Gabbert and former Pascack Valley Board of Education member Jeffrey Hering, by a wide margin; after redistricting in 2001, they narrowly defeated another incumbent, Guy Talarico, now the Bergen County GOP Chairman. Rooney has been an Assemblyman since 1983 and Vandervalk has been in office since 1991.

Some Bergen GOP insiders list Washington Township Councilman (and former gubernatorial candidate) Robert Schroeder and former Waldwick Mayor James Toolen as possible Assembly candidates.

ROONEY: BERGEN COUNTY COALITION TO PUT SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA ON TRIAL GAINS TRACTION

CONGRESSMAN ROB ANDREWS EARNS TOP GRADE ON DARFUR FROM HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP
Genocide Intervention Network Applauds Robert Andrews’ Leadership on Darfur

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ) earned a top score from the Genocide Intervention Network for his efforts to address the crisis in Darfur, Sudan.

“The genocide in Darfur is a tragedy that demands a global response,� said Rep. Andrews. “That is why I have fought, and will continue to fight, for the U.S. to provide more money to the African Mission forces in Sudan and additional humanitarian aid to Darfur, and been aggressive in my calls for enhanced and sustained diplomatic efforts to end the crisis.�

Several Bergen County Republican leaders report that Gerald Cardinale has them that he wants just one more term in the State Senate. The 72-year-old Cardinale plans to seek re-election in 2007 and then retire four years later. Cardinale was elected to the Assembly in 1979 and won a Senate seat in 1981 when he defeated Democratic incumbent Frank Herbert. He lost primaries for Governor in 1989 and Congress in 2002.

Cardinale's district may be the site of a hotly contested primary for State Assembly next year, where some Bergen Republicans have threatened challengers to longtime incumbents John Rooney (elected in 1983) and Charlotte Vandervalk (elected in 1991). If Cardinale does intend to make his next campaign his last, the '07 Assembly primary could determine who the next State Senator will be.

And if State Senator Henry McNamara, also 72, retires before 2011 -- and if his seat is filled by Assemblyman Kevin O'Toole of Essex County -- then Cardinale's seat could be the only one held by a Bergen County Republican in the next decade.

Footnote: Ten years ago, Bergen County Republicans held four State Senate seats: John Scott in the 36th, Louis Kosco in the 38th, Cardinale and McNamara.