Bergen Co. Republican Organization Held Invalid Election: Judge

Mahwah NJ

15 December, 2021

10:42 AM

Description

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — The Bergen County Republican Organization must hold new elections before returning to regular business after a judge ruled that the organization held an illegal election earlier this year. Superior Court Judge Estela de la Cruz ruled that, while an election is being scheduled, the current members of the organization, and Chairman Jack Zisa, are restrained from "making any decision or taking any action" that a "legally formed and duly authorized board of a county party organization and its leadership" could make. Robert Taschler filed the lawsuit on July 19. The suit alleges that the organization scheduled an organizational election for June 1 after the municipal county committee elections were canceled on from happening on June 8, the day of primary elections. BCRO statutes state that the organizational elections must be held after the primaries, but the suit alleges that the organization "called for an held an annual meeting and election at the time of their choosing, which was before the primary election." Rather than being elected, the suit alleged, Taschler was appointed as a member of the New Milford Republican Municipal Committee, and also to the BCRO. Opposing arguments from the organization state that members were given notice — on social media, at a meeting and in e-mail blasts — and that "there were no claims made by any voter that he or she lost an opportunity to vote on the scheduled date." Further, the organization argued that the elections for municipal committee positions weren't canceled in 2021, because they weren't part of the election cycle. But de la Cruz sided with Taschler's suit, stating clearly that the BCRO was in violation because there were no orders passed that would have modified language about a voting schedule. With no changes made, the BCRO was in violation of their own statutes, she ruled. "This statutory language is unambiguous," de la Cruz wrote. Thus, the BCRO will have to schedule and hold new elections. A status conference is scheduled at Jan. 11 to discuss when a new date will be scheduled, and to discuss issues and concerns. de la Cruz also requested that the organization file a statement to the court by Jan. 6, which details their suggestion for a new date and election process.