Wayne Republicans Upset Over Ballot Position

WAYNE, NJ — A Passaic County assignment judge is expected to hear a complaint filed by a slate of Republicans who are upset over their position on the June primary ballot and claiming the ballot is illegal.

Lonni Miller Ryan and her runningmates — James Marrocoo, Matthew Rosenthal and Kevin Kearney — were slated to be included with the other candidates endorsed by the Passaic County Regular Republican Organization on Row A of ballot when names were drawn April 17. Instead, Passaic County Clerk Kristin M. Corrado — herself a candidate for a 40th District assembly seat — they were placed on Row F.

Miller Ryan's opponent, incumbent Chris Vergano and his slate of Wayne council candidates: Jill Sasso, David Varano and incumbent Joseph Schweighardt are on row "A."

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"Every Republican voter should be outraged," Miller Ryan said in an email. "I urge Christopher Vergano and his runningmates to renounce this dirty-trick tactic and abide by the rules."

According to Wayne Regular Republican Organization Chairman Mike Marotta, Pompton Lakes Republican Chairman Tim Troast carried out a "behind-the-scenes secret plan" to de-bracket Miller Ryan's ticket from the slate of candidates the Passaic County Regular Republican Organization endorsed.

PCRRO Chairman John Traier said he did not "grant anyone but the candidates designated by the Wayne Republican leader to run on the PCRRO-designated line."

Assignment Judge Ernest M. Caposela is expected to hear the complaint Tuesday lawyers representing Miller Ryan's team filed Friday.

Caposela last week refused to allow Republican gubernatorial candidate Hirsh Singh to appear on the ballot with the Paul DiGaetano-led slate of candidates. The decision bumped Singh from Row B to Row C and allowed Corrado to print the ballots.

"Desperate moves like these are why people lose faith in the political process and government," Miller Ryan said. "What deal did [Vergano] and his runningmates have to make? Who are they beholden to now? Sadly, it appears they will do whatever they need to do to win — even if it means cheating."

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