June 2, 2005 [Passaic] County GOP fight splits three ways
By Asjlyn Loder
HERALD NEWS
Three groups of Passaic County Republicans competing for nominations for county freeholder on Tuesday are counting on their candidate for governor to lead the way.
The six Republican freeholder candidates in the three-way race line up behind three gubernatorial candidates: Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan, Assemblyman Paul DiGaetano, and former Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler.
Republicans predict a volatile contest in the race for the freeholder nominations. In a primary marked by a contentious party split and likely low turnout, success or failure may hinge on how good the candidates for governor are in getting their supporters to the polls.
"It's obviously the first name that appears on the line, and therefore will pull people to it or not as the case may be," said Pat Kramer, a former Paterson mayor and co-chairman of the county's self-styled Reform Republicans, who split from the county's Regular Republican Organization in January.
Kramer topped his ticket with Schundler. Schundler enjoys statewide recognition as one of the two front-runners - with Doug Forrester - for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Schundler was the 2001 GOP candidate for governor.
In the GOP freeholder primary, the reformers tapped Passaic Councilman Jonathan Soto and political newcomer Robert Piersanti of West Paterson.
Kramer bet on a repeat of Schundler's countywide win in the 2001 primary, hoping that Schundler will beat out the other six candidates for governor, and take Soto and Piersanti to victory.
Kramer's rival, regular GOP party Chairman Mike Mecca, said Schundler's 2001 success meant little this year.
"It was a different race, against one other candidate," Mecca said. "Now you have seven. Schundler is up against formidable opponents this time."
Mecca backed DiGaetano for governor. He is an eight-term Assemblyman in the 36th District, which includes the city of Passaic, and a former Passaic councilman.
"He's a homegrown boy and he knows Passaic County and has roots here," Mecca said. "That helps us out a lot."
DiGaetano leads a slate that includes freeholder candidates Clifton Councilman Frank Gaccione and Victor Rabbat, a Wayne attorney.
Mecca also speculated that political geography favors his candidates.
Gaccione's name recognition in Clifton, combined with DiGaetano's popularity in Passaic and Rabbat's hometown advantage in Wayne, a longtime Republican stronghold, may give the ticket the advantage it needs to edge out its opponents.
Paul Bailey, a West Milford councilman and candidate for freeholder on Lonegan's slate, speculated that a primary restricted to Republican die-hards may help him. Lonegan leads a ticket that includes freeholder candidates Bailey and Bill Connolly, GOP municipal chairman in Paterson for the regular Republicans.
Lonegan's reputation for strict fiscal controls and firm moral values makes him attractive to Republicans committed enough to turn out for the primary, Bailey said.
"I believe the type of Republicans that come out for primaries tend to be more of the dyed-in-the-wool Republicans, and I think Steven Lonegan speaks to those people," Bailey said.
All three campaigns, though expressing confidence in their own slate, admitted that the race remains unpredictable, and that voter turnout will make all the difference.
"It's going to be who does the best job of getting their people to the polls," Mecca said.
