How about Dick Mola vs. Steve Rothman & Connie Wagner vs. Scott Garrett?
By Wally Edge | December 18th, 2009 - 10:47amThere is some talk in Bergen County that Republicans want to recruit a credible challenger to run against seven-term U.S. Rep. Steven Rothman (D-Fair Lawn) next year. GOP leaders don't believe they can beat Rothman, but they think a stronger-than-usual candidate helps them win the big prize of 2010: County Executive and control of the Board of Freeholders. Congressional candidates are at the top of the ticket in the next General Election. For the same reason, Democrats might want a serious candidate to challenge U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett (R-Wantage), even though they understand that Garrett is likely to win a fifth term anyway.
Here's a short list of candidates the GOP might ask to do them a favor and run against Rothman: Richard Mola, the mayor of Elmwood Park since 1970 and a Bergen County Freeholder for 22 years; Steven Lonegan, the former mayor of Bogota who sought the GOP nomination for governor in 2005 and 2009; Rose Heck, the mayor of Hasbrouck Heights who served as an Assemblywoman from 1990 to 2004; and Kathleen Donovan, the Bergen County Clerk since 1988 and a former Assemblywoman and GOP State Chair. If Republicans don't pick her to run for County Executive, maybe she'll take one for the team and run against Rothman, who hasn't been held to under 60% of the vote since Donovan ran against him in 1996.
Some possible Democratic candidates to run against Garrett: Assemblywoman Connie Wagner (D-Paramus), a former Paramus Councilwoman and Bergen County Freeholder who was re-elected this year by 5,500 votes; soon-to-be former Freeholder Julie O'Brien, who lost re-election by less than 1% last month, if Democrats don't run her again next year; Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli, who will be out of a job in 2012 anyway; and Bergen County Executive Dennis C. McNerney, who could use a race for Congress as a graceful exit strategy if Democrats want don't back him for re-election to a third term.
In 2008, Rothman beat Iraq war veteran Steve Micco 68%-31, and Garrett won a 56%-42% win over blind Rabbi Dennis Shulman.
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Mola & Heck
Dick & Rosie, both well over 70, older than dirt and many in their town can't even remember who they are. Middle age voters believe they are part of the furniture now at boro hall. They may be known in their town, but they can't get past that in their district. If the Bergen County GOP has to go there, it just demonstrates they have a weak back bench.
Political Silly Season
has begun.
First off Connie " Porn & Guns " Wagner tainted herself big time in the last election, another easy target for Scott Garrett.
Mola is a local guy who is good on the Local and county stage and would never waste his time against Rothman
Except that she is a powerful voice in the State Senate
and perhaps one of the most effective legislators in NJ, Loretta Weinberg would be a winner in the County Executive race. Maybe that's why they're floating McNothing for a run against Garrett, opening an exit strategy. The incumbents are a public embarrassment.
In truth, the Democrats don't really have much on first string, no less on the back bench. If they're recycling worn re-treads like O'Brien, then this is an accident waiting to happen. To lose by 1% when Corzine-Weinberg won Bergen County says a lot, especially given the fact Republicans were virtually out of power and had a pronounced disadvantage in party registration and fundraising numbers. All they need to do is revive the quote from four years ago, praising Ferriero and saying that the public doesn't care about pay-to-play. Now the corruption tax is becoming more and more evident to voters everyday, this would be fatal.
Eleven more months!
The Big Races
Are no longer the place for anyone well over 70 years old to start a run. Mola and Heck should stay as Mayors of their towns and leave the "Big Races" for those that have a name recognition and a real chance of winning. Dow we have to remember that the ninth Congresional District runs into Hudson County. The Republican candidate there is a "Sacrificial Lamb". We don't need to put Donovan that can be a sure County Executive winner in that District and for sure we don't need Lonegan who was there once and it was a "Fiasco" to go there again and energize the Democrats to come out and kill us. The District is with more Democrats than before. Be carefull Republicans We don't need to dig our own grave in Bergen County.
Reddog elder abuse
is disgusting. I bet that some Republicans over the age of 70 can still kick your butt. Maybe its time for some of the older Republicans to get back in races as the younger ones have screwed things up for the last 8 years
teedyuscung and reddog
You keep acting like we are just going to walk in and knock mcnerney over with a feather. he is a very popular county exec even among republicans. and remember donovan has enemies in the bergen gop.