Bergen County Republicans have chosen longtime candidate Todd Caliguire, who served as a freelancer in the 1990s, as his candidate for mayor.
Caligiwar defeated realtor Fort Lee Linda Barba and two others to seize the Republican Party’s organization at the party’s annual convention on Wednesday. He is now the favorite in the fight against incumbent President James Tedesco, who holds two terms in the general election.
Republicans have also chosen Saddle River GOP chairman Doug Holden, 2020 candidate Ronald Lynn and prominent Englewood Republican leader Diderot Paul as candidates for county commissioners.
The 66-year-old Caliguire defeated Barba 467-108 with a 76-18% advantage. Timothy Walsh, former chairman of the Young Republicans of Bergen County, came in third with 29 votes (4%). Another longtime candidate, Paul Dagan, received 12 votes (2%).
Holden became the best with 490 votes, followed by Lynn (426) and Paul (372). They defeated Michelle Khan (301) and Russell Doherty (47).
Once seen as a rising star in Bergen Republican politics, a Midland Park resident and former Kino administration official was the first sought party support from a congressman in 1984 and as head of the county in 1986. He lost two races to the state senate, one for the county seat – he lost 20 points in 2006 – and one for Republican nominee for governor. He was a freelancer for two terms, but has not won an election since 1995.
His last campaign was a race in the State Senate in 2007 Kevin O’Tooleseemingly ended his political career after being convicted of racist, anti-Asian mailing.
His responsibility for the fact that the mail is essentially attacking him for being an Asian American in the county who saw it The Asian-American population has grown by 31% over the past decade and now makes up 18.4% of Bergen County’s population is likely to become a problem in his political bid for return. There are enough Korean American voters in Bergen County, so all ballots must also be printed in Korean.
Caliguire sent out a letter containing photos of O’Toole, the state’s first Asian American lawmaker, and the Rev. Al Sharpton, claiming that O’Toole was “Republican El Sharpton.”
“Democrats like Al Sharpton have divided America by their commitment to race and positive action,” the newsletter said. “Now Kevin O’Toole is guilty of the same thing.”
O’Toole referred to the newsletter in Fr. a column on Asian hatred he wrote for the New Jersey Globe in March 2021.
“Not such a silent hand of racism will show its disgust when my opponent, trying to stir up racial waves, sent a letter about me and the Rev. Al Sharpton, calling us babies with positive actions,” he said.
Caliguaira company manager Kevin Collins defended their messages in an interview with The (Bergen) Record.
“We could have changed the photo. We didn’t do it, “Collins told The Record.” We could have made his skin more yellow. We didn’t. “
Then-Republican President Tom Wilson repulsed Caliguire for the lure.
