Mayor McCormac may face challenge from a Democrat
Ken Gardner
McCormac was a former state treasurer, but he was also a Democrat in one of the state's biggest municipalities. Last week when Christie visited Woodbridge for a town hall meeting, the governor paused his berating Democrats in order to praise McCormac's work as mayor and call him an adviser.
McCormac's relationship with the hard-hitting Republican is shaping up to become a local issue as the mayor seeks a second full term in office.
Kenneth Gardner, a former Republican council president, says he may challenge McCormac in the June primary and in the process challenge McCormac's Democratic bona fides on issues such as school funding and the so-called "millionaire's tax."
"He's playing footsie with the governor and getting in the governor's good graces," said Gardner, who has tried on several occasions to elicit reaction from McCormac on positions Christie has taken.
For his part, McCormac says there is no question he's a loyal Democrat and chalks up his closeness to Christie as bipartisanship. He steadfastly refuses to comment on "state issues."
"People need to look past party labels and partisan politics and work together for the good of our common constituencies," he added.
The township's Democratic and Republican committees meet Monday evening to nominate candidates for mayor and four at-large council seats. McCormac will be unopposed for the party line, but Gardner said he may still challenge him in the June primary. The victor would face the Republican nominee in the November general election.
Gardner switched parties three months ago, but resigned from the Republican committee about six years ago. He also noted that while his name does not appear on any published reports, he did some behind-the-scenes work for former Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine's own transition team.
"My campaign is more about the issues," said Gardner, an elected fire commissioner in Woodbridge who works in government finance for a private company. "McCormac hasn't really spoken on these issues. I would ask him to advise the governor that a millionaire's tax would bring additional revenue, which would increase the state aid we receive for the town and the school district."
McCormac co-chaired the Christie transition team committee that called for a reduction in taxes. But McCormac said not every member of the committee agreed with every recommendation in the final report to the governor.
McCormac would not reveal his own position on the Democratic-backed millionaire's tax. A previous iteration of the proposal was vetoed by Christie last summer.
"Ask me what I think about that when I run for state office," McCormac said.
Ken Gardner, and 
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Jack Blake 10:09 am on March 22, 2011 Permalink
Big talking Big Mac and all his cohorts on the town council and the WBOE who are all in cahoots with one another, all must go. Woodbridge is growing weary of the constant tax and spend that has been going on. Having our taxes raised every single year with no consideration of the poor economy, is unacceptable. There are many in town who are struggling to stay above water and not lose their homes! You would think this gang of bandits would have the decency to try and cut spending! But NO, it’s business as usual and everyone connected will continue to get theirs no matter what! Screw the tax payers and bleed them until there’s no more blood left. It is time for a MAJOR overhaul in this township starting in November. We need to throw them all out of office and start a new. If the next bunch doesn’t get the job done, then we’ll throw them out in the very next election. We cannot afford to continue on the same path were on now. We don’t need to buy the Colonia Country Club so the connected play for free and make it a patronage pit for the town cronies. We don’t need another skate board park or the ridiculous idea of Miniature Golf behind the Community Center and the more ridiculous assumption it’s going to make a half million dollars a year. Are you not tired of hearing Big Mac talk about all these things that are going to save money, WHAT!!!! If were saving all this money, why are the taxes going up every single year without fail!! The taxpayers cannot afford all this ridiculous spending when most of us are fighting to stay above water. Come on Woodbridge residents, it’s time to clean house in November or we will all be sorry and we’ll all be digging deeper to keep the business as usual attitude that’s so prevalent right now. LET’S DO THIS WOODBRIDGE
Ken Gardner 5:09 pm on March 22, 2011 Permalink
Reporter Sergio was provided with e-mails & documentation from 2005 including requests & correspondence from: 1) Jon Corzine’s transition leader & future Chief Counsel, Ed McBride; 2) Corzine’s top transition policy advisor, Carl Van Horn; and 3) Corzine’s transition leader & future Head of Economic Development, Kevin Drennan all requesting & discussing my work for Corzine’s transition team. The documents are all clearly labeled “Office of the Governor-Elect”.
Sergio is aware that Registered Republican John McCormac was my Campaign Treasurer in 1991 when I was running for Council President. Somehow the story left off my republican treasurer.
Most importantly McCormac has reduced the number of police officers we have as a result of Christie’s cut in municipal aid to Woodbridge last year. In addition our school district was shorted approximately $38 million by the Governor last year. McCormac authored the transition report that called for the elimination of the millionaire’s tax. Since McCormac remains an advisor to the Governor I simply ask McCormac to reverse his position to help Woodbridge. If the millionaires were taxed Woodbridge Township & School District would receive more state aid. That is a local issue.
My public positions have been in line with that of a fiscally conservative Democratic agenda all along. So McCormac is right when he says issues (and records) are more important than labels.