WAYNE, N.J. – The headquarters of the Passaic County Regular Republican Organization was bursting at the seams on Tuesday night as county committee members flooded the building to decide which of three candidates would fill the legislative district 40 vacancy created when former Assemblyman Scott Rumana resigned to become a judge in the Passaic County Superior Court. Wayne Republican Leader Michael Marotta, Wyckoff Mayor Kevin Rooney and outgoing Bergen County Freeholder Maura DeNicola all put their names into consideration for the spot.
Ridgewood NJ, Maura McMahon DeNicola has announced on Facebook that she will be seeking the vacant seat created by the departure of Assemblyman Scott Rumana in NJ District 40.
DeNicola stated, “Well Friends, after serious consideration and support, I’m in! I am seeking election to the Vacant Seat created by the departure of Assemblyman Scott Rumana in NJ District 40. I very much look forward to connecting with all of the dedicated D40 County Committee members before the November 22nd vacancy vote.”
For those that have not had the pleasure of meeting Maura has long list of local leadership positions :
Bergen County Freeholder
Trustee Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Mayor of Franklin Lakes
Councilwoman Franklin Lakes
Member Board of Trustees Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Former Member Board of Trustees Don Bosco Prep
Former Member Franklin Lakes Board of Education
Member Franklin Lakes Planning Board
Member Bergen County Mayors Association and Northwest Bergen Mayors Association
Maura’s was educated at Boston College, B.A., graduated magna cum laude and recieved and M.A. from Columbia University.
Maura has been Married to Philip, 29 years with 4 children,Philip, Graduate U.S. Naval Academy, Lieutenant U.S. Navy
Paul, Graduate Leonard N. Stern School of Business at the New York University,Conor, Automotive Mechanic
Lucia, Freshman, Villanova University
Though the senate and assembly races in Republican-leaning LD40 won’t be held until 2017, a number of moving parts have made the district one to watch. When Senator Kevin O’Toole announced that he would not be pursuing reelection when his term ends, it opened the door for speculation on what would happen when his retirement came. Now, some are wondering who will eventually become the Republican nominee for his seat and what will happen to the assembly positions in the district.
O’Toole’s decision brings into question the fate of his district mates, Assemblyman Scott Rumana and Assemblyman David Russo. Some wonder if O’Toole’s decision to depart will entice either of the sitting assemblyman to pursue the LD40 senate seat. That move would open at least one spot in the assembly.
The mayor of Wyckoff is no longer pursuing the BCRO chairmanship.
Despite considerable speculation that Wyckoff Mayor Kevin Rooney dropped from the race for Bergen County Republican Organization Chairman in order to pursue an LD40 assembly seat, the mayor said he is not planning on making the move at this time.
“I am happy where I am,” Rooney told PolitickerNJ. “We have two assemblymen who just got elected so why would I even try that?”
On Tuesday, Rooney announced that he would be exiting the BCRO race for chairman and would be endorsing current chairman Bob Yudin. According to his remarks, Rooney’s decision stems from a desire for Bergen County’s Republicans to move forward as a unified front to the November elections.
“If we are going to win this November and in the future we must unite and stop the interparty fighting,” Rooney said. “I know some of you will be disappointed by my decision, but now is not the time for a ugly divisive chairman’s race, this will only lead to a democrat victory.”
On Wednesday, Assemblyman Scott Rumana held a successful fundraiser in Little Falls. Over 130 guests were present and the event drew the likes of Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick, Congressman Scott Garrett, Senator Gerald Cardinale, Conference Leader Dave Rible, Passaic County Chairman John Traier, Ocean County Chairman George Gilmore, and NJ Federation of Republican Women President Vanessa LaFranco.
According to one source, any speculation on what impact O’Toole’s departure might have is nothing more than conjecture. Because the LD40 races are not until 2017, the source said it is hard to know how the process will play out until after this year’s elections are no longer a main priority.
“Rumana is out there fundraising and, as far as I know, David Russo has not said that he is retiring,” the source said. “It is a rumor. Everybody is always looking for the curve behind the curve and, sometimes, there really isn’t just anything there. I think you are going to see a lot of candidates running for a lot of things depending on what happens in the next year.”
Even so, some insiders are saying that Rumana may be positioning himself to run for the Senate seat to be vacated by O’Toole in 2017. Others are saying that he might accept a judgeship.
Peter Murphy, left, with state Senator Kevin O’Toole (R-40).
The departure come the end of 2017 from the state senate of Kevin O’Toole sets up a possible (make that probable) coming battle royale for his 4.
Names that must be considered as O’Toole’s successors include Assemblyman Scott Rumana, Assemblyman Dave Russo, Passaic County Clerk Kristin Corrado, and Wyckoff Mayor Kevin Rooney, among others.
Those are the Republicans, who have the edge in a district heavy with Passaic (pop. 104,000 in the 40th) that also contains a portion of Bergen (pop. 79,000) and towns in Morris (19,000) and Essex (12,400).
It’s a tribute to his force of personality and political gamesmanship that O’Toole made 40 his domain, by the way, despite residing in its otherwise politically irrelevant Essex sliver.
Wayne by rights offers the most (on paper) power base.
Among Democrats, names include Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn and Woodland Park Mayor Keith Kazmark. If Aronsohn and Kazmark both ran, political junkies would be treated to a Passaic v. Bergen bloodbath.
