Joseph Ariyan

Armenian-Americans seem like an odd group to go to battle over, but both 39th district state Senate candidates are vying for their support.

It’s common for politicians to court specific ethnic groups if they’re numerous enough to have an impact at the polls, but what makes Armenian-Americans different is their tiny population. There are just over 8,200 Armenians in Bergen County, according to the 2000 census, and about 17,000 statewide. But despite their small numbers, they’re cohesive and politically active, and they can be a powerful political force if they coalesce behind a single candidate. Now the support of the Armenian-American community has become a point of contention between Democratic state Senate candidate Joe Ariyan, who’s of Armenian heritage, and long-time Republican incumbent Gerald Cardinale, who just sponsored a Senate resolution that will appeal to many in the community.

Joseph Ariyan has amassed over $200,000 in his fight for the 39th district state Senate seat, according to his campaign.

In a sign of how seriously Democrats see their chances of winning at least one legislative seat in the once solidly Republican but now perhaps vulnerable district, Ariyan recently held a fundraiser attended by Democratic heavyweight Dick Codey. That event pushed him over the $200,000 mark.

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.

The state’s most competitive legislative race is in the twelfth district, where Democratic State Senator Ellen Karcher faces a challenge from GOP Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck.  Karcher has $41,077 cash-on-hand, while Beck has $16,636.  Democratic Assemblyman Michael Panter has $98,251 in his account, while Republican challengers Declan O’Scanlon and Caroline Casagrande have just a little more than $10,000 combined.

In the first district State Senate race, Republican incumbent Nicholas Asselta has $255,256 cash-on-hand.  His opponent, Democratic Assemblyman Jefferson Van Drew, has $89,098 in his account.  Van Drew has an additional $59,767 in a joint account with the Democratic Assembly candidates.

In District 2, incumbent James “Sonny” McCullough, a Republican who won a Special Election Convention last February, has $115,665 in his account.  His Democratic rival, Assemblyman James Whelan, has just $7,460 in a joint account with his running mates.

In the 39th district, first-time candidate Joseph Ariyan has raised $140,981 against veteran GOP Senator Gerald Cardinale, and has $133,329 in his account.  Cardinale has $242,245 in his warchest.

The Democratic legislative candidates in the 39th district kicked off their campaign today, calling for the defeat of three longtime Republican legislators.

Joseph Ariyan, Bergen County’s Public Advocate for Land Use, is challenging long-time GOP State Sen. Gerald Cardinale.

Joined by the district’s Democratic assembly candidates -- River Edge Councilwoman Esther Fletcher and Dumont Councilman Carl Manna -- Ariyan talked optimistically about Democrats’ chances in this traditionally Republican district.

State Sen. Gerald Cardinale said the Democrats can pour money into the 39th district, maybe even hit a couple of people who don’t know him and change their minds, but he says he and his team will run on the issues and win.

The veteran senator said he learned Wednesday night of Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Chair Ferreiro’s decision to pull the plug on a slate of candidates challenging incumbent Sen. Loretta Weinberg and her running mates in a district 37 Democratic Party.

The move frees the Democrats up to go to war with the 73-year-old Cardinale, who shrugged off the news.

Joseph Ariyan, a 41-year-old lawyer from Saddle River, has begun raising money for a challenge to veteran Republican State Senator Gerald Cardinale in the 39th district. Ariyan has been active in Bergen County Democratic politics, and is the county's Public Advocate for Land Use. The 72-year-old Cardinale was first elected to the State Assembly in 1979 and moved up to the Senate in 1981, defeating incumbent Frank Herbert. He was re-elected to an eighth term in 2003 with 62% of the vote against Ramsey Mayor Richard Muti.