Kaiser says no to Senate bid against Lagana

Paramus Council President Robert Kaiser has decided not to challenge State Sen. Joseph Lagana (D-Paramus) in the 38th district this year but hinted that he might challenge Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton in 2024.

“This past month has been absolutely amazing, and the reception we have gotten on a campaign for senate in district 38 has been incredible,” Kaiser said.  “After many long days of talking with individuals throughout the district and Paramus, I have decided that right now, I am committed to the Borough of Paramus and representing our residents as their council president and supporting our new mayor.”

With the Bergen County Republican Organization filing deadline coming tomorrow, the GOP still has no one to run against Lagana in a district that is pivotal to Republicans if they want to take control of the legislature next year.   Jack Zisa, the GOP county chairman, can extend the deadline if his party has no candidate.

Former Assemblyman Guy Talarico (R-Oradell) is still mulling a Senate bid.  He served in the Assembly from 1997 to 2002, when he became a casualty of legislative redistricting and is a former Bergen County Republican chairman.

For now, Kaiser, a former South Hackensack deputy police chief, said that the Paramus council “still has a lot of work to do to keep the promises we made when meeting thousands of residents on the campaign trail.”

“I am not closing the door on a future campaign for higher office,” he said.  “With my law enforcement background, there’s an office that’s coming up next year, I might just take a look at that.”

That could put Kaiser into a primary fight with the party’s 2021 candidate, Saddle Brook Police Chief Robert Kugler.