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News Release  O’Toole, Russo, Rumana To Lead Republican District 40 TicketYouthful, Energetic Team Vows To Fight For Ethics and Property Tax Reform

Contact Thom Ammirato

973-403-7836                                                                                     March 14, 2007

 Wayne, NJ -- Assemblyman Kevin O’Toole announced today that he will be running for State senate in the 40th legislative district, replacing long time senator Henry, “Hank� McNamara, who will not seek re-election this year. Taking O’Toole’s place on the Republican ticket is Wayne Mayor Scott Rumana. Incumbent Assemblyman David Russo of Ridgewood will round out the GOP ticket. O’Toole who served as an Assemblyman in District 40 for six years, and one year State senator in another district, said he looks forward to the opportunity to return to the upper house of the legislature and helping to deliver real property tax relief for residents.  O’Toole, 42, who served on the Assembly Budget Committee this year, said the state desperately needs property tax overhaul. “It was frustrating to be in Trenton and watch the majority party fail to live up to its promise of property tax reform,� said O’Toole. “My goal will be -- not only win the state senate race --  but to help create a Republican Senate majority that will revamp New Jersey’s broken property tax system and deliver real spending and tax cuts to homeowners and businesses.�
 O’Toole, who helped lead the fight for ethics reform in the legislature, said he wants to continue to raise the ethical bar in Trenton and to reform the state pension system. “We have to stop the abuses of power in Trenton that reward the politically connected and make sure the legislature lives up to expectations of the voters.�   Rumana, 42, who has served as mayor for more than five years, and four years as a Passaic County freeholder, said he is embracing the opportunity to run for the state legislature to address the statewide issues that are affecting people of North Jersey.  “As mayor and freeholder, I have seen the impact that state spending decisions have on local taxpayers. I want to go to Trenton to fight to cut unnecessary spending and needless state mandates on local governments that increase property taxes,� said Rumana. Russo, first elected to the Assembly in 1990, said he is looking forward to sharing the ticket with O’Toole and Rumana.   “This Republican slate gives us a team that spans the entire geographic region of District 40 and gives us a very energetic team that I am sure will go on to do great things in Trenton,� said Russo.  “I look forward to running with Scott Rumana and I think his presence in Trenton will be an asset to the legislature.�      

District 40 is comprised of: Cedar Grove Township, Franklin Lakes Borough, Little Falls Township, Mahwah Township, Midland Park Borough, Oakland Borough, Ridgewood, Ringwood Borough, Verona Township, Wanaque Borough, Wayne Township, Wyckoff Township.