Rob Ortiz

Even after today’s filing deadline, it seems like everybody still wants to change the candidates in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. At least a few high ranking Republican activists are hoping that they can convince Goya Foods heir Andy Unanue to drop out, but his friend and advisor, Bergen County Republican Chairman Rob Ortiz, said that’s not going to happen.

“Andy has no intention of stepping down,” he said.

Unanue, entered the race just two weeks ago as the party’s darling but quickly fell from grace amidst questions about his residency and allegations stemming from an intra-family business dispute.

Some Republicans say that Unanue is upset at the national Republicans’ all out effort to push biotech millionaire John Crowley into the race, which went so far as to have John McCain and Rudy Giuliani call him and urge him to run.  What’s unclear is whether that anger will make Unanue more or less likely to forego his run.

According to Ortiz, however, Unanue isn’t mad.

Both the Democratic and Republican organizations in Bergen County have intra-party fights to deal with before they can take each other on.                                                                                                   

Dr. Sabrin Makes Reform Pledge To Avoid Conflicts Of Interest Between Political Bosses And Lobbyists

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NA DEMS DEMAND LOCAL GOP REFUSE TRUMP CAMPAIGN CASH

Councilman Steve Tanelli, North Arlington’s strongest and most consistent opponent of the EnCap overdevelopment housing project, said the Bergen County Republican Party has “sold out” to developer Donald Trump and called on the NA GOP to announce they will not accept contributions from the county organization.

State Sen. Joe Pennacchio won the backing of the Bergen County Republican Organization for his U.S. Senate campaign tonight, racking up another county line even as some Republican leaders continue their search for a new U.S. Senate candidate.

Pennacchio got 351 votes from county committee members to Murray Sabrin’s 79.

But neither Pennacchio nor his current only rival, Murray Sabrin, were there for the results. Pennacchio had to run out to his own cocktail party fundraiser in Whippany, making it back in time to give a quick victory speech, while Sabrin had to teach an evening class at Ramapo College, where he’s a professor.

Bergen County Republicans feel that the scene is set for a competitive freeholder race.

Three incumbent Democrats are up for reelection to the all-Democrat board. There’s Bernadette McPherson, who just lost her mayoral seat in Rutherford by a landslide; David Ganz, who lost his mayoral seat in Fair Lawn to Republican Ed Trawinski in 2005 (although he was reelected to the freeholder board that same year); and the brand new Vernon Walton, a former Englewood councilman who lost that seat to Democratic Assemblyman Gordon Johnson in 2006.

“McPherson and Ganz, I think, are the soft underbelly of the Democratic freeholder board,” said Republican state Sen. Gerald Cardinale.

Add to the chastened incumbents a few local circumstances, like the growing EnCap controversy, the indictment of former Democratic state Sen. Joe Coniglio and having the popular Republican Kathleen Donovan on the ballot for reelection as county clerk, and some Republicans feel that they have the makings for a good race and a chance to win a Freeholder seat for the first time since Lisa Randall won one in 2003.

“The (Democrats) each have baggage,” said Republican strategist Thom Ammirato. “You’ve got great issues floating around them.”

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.

Joe Coniglio is the target of a federal criminal probeBergen County GOP Chairman Rob Ortiz has filed a formal complaint with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission regarding former State Sen. Joseph Coniglio’s use of leftover campaign funds – about $90,000 – to pay for his legal expenses. ELEC ruled on Wednesday that former State Sen. Wayne Bryant, who is under indictment, could not use his warchest to pay attorney fees. Coniglio is the target of a federal criminal probe.