Mecca wins GOP Assembly nomination in 27th

Former Passaic County Freeholder Michael Mecca, Jr. is the new Republican candidate for State Assembly in the 27th district.

GOP county committee members tonight picked Mecca to replace Jonathan Sym, who withdrew from the race and moved with his family to Virginia after his U.S. Navy Reserve unit was called up for active duty.

Another candidate, Malvin Frias, did not attend tonight’s meeting; Mecca’s nomination was unanimous.

Mecca and another Clifton Republican, Irene DeVita, will face Democrats Alixon Collazos-Gill and Rosy Bagolie in the general election.

A Livingston councilwoman, Bagolie was picked by Democrats last week to fill the empty spot on their ticket created when Assemblyman John McKeon (D-West Orange) won the Democratic Senate nomination.  McKeon wants to succeed State Sen. Richard J. Codey (D-Roseland), who decided to retire after 50 years in the New Jersey Legislature.

Mecca was elected to the Passaic County Board of Freeholders in 1998 and re-elected in 2001, but lost his bid for a third term in 20054.  He served as Passaic County Republican Chairman from 2002 to 2006.