Todd Caliguire
Encyclopedia
Todd Caliguire is an American Republican Party
politician
in New Jersey
. He is a former county freeholder and candidate for Governor of New Jersey
. Caliguire is married to Laurie Gayle Stephenson, a professional actress who has appeared in several Broadway productions including the lead role in "Phantom of the Opera". Todd and Laurie have one daughter, Sarah Kate Caliguire. The family lives in Ridgewood, New Jersey
and his daughter is a student at Eastern Christian Middle School.
Caliguire was an aide in the 1980s to then Governor of New Jersey
Thomas Kean
, where he served as an assistant counsel to the governor and later as Counselor to the Governor, a senior policy advisor. Caliguire left Kean's staff to work in the private practice of law in Bergen County
.
During the 1990s, Caliguire was elected to two terms on the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders
, which is the county's legislative body. Caliguire surprised political observers when he announced his decision to not seek a third term as a freeholder to keep a term limit pledge.
. Caliguire was considered a long shot candidate for the nomination as he was little known statewide. He raised the least of the seven candidates and had no campaign staff. He came across as the most academic of the candidates and he issued a 150 page campaign plan for what he would do as governor. He finished last in the field of seven. It was reported that his candidacy for governor was aimed to position himself for the Republican nomination for Bergen County Executive in 2006.
announced her candidacy for county executive against Caliguire.
Caliguire was formally endorsed by the county Republican party, because of a rule enforced by the county party chairman which said that a candidate needed to have filed a notice of intent to seek the party endorsement before the endorsement meeting. Caliguire had met the deadline, while Donovan announced her candidacy after the deadline.
Thus, only Caliguire's name was presented to endorsement convention delegates, while Donovan did receive support. Donovan quickly recruited Freeholder Elizabeth Randall
, who had been running with Caliguire, and Caliguire's running mate for county surrogate, Jae Y. Kim, Esq., to her campaign.
Following a competitive and at times, heated campaign, Caliguire defeated Donovan 51% to 49% for the Republican nomination. He lost to incumbent County Executive
Dennis McNerney
60%-40% in the November election.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He is a former county freeholder and candidate for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
. Caliguire is married to Laurie Gayle Stephenson, a professional actress who has appeared in several Broadway productions including the lead role in "Phantom of the Opera". Todd and Laurie have one daughter, Sarah Kate Caliguire. The family lives in Ridgewood, New Jersey
Ridgewood, New Jersey
Ridgewood is a village in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the village population was 24,958. Ridgewood is an affluent suburban bedroom community of New York City, located approximately northwest of Midtown Manhattan.The Village of Ridgewood was...
and his daughter is a student at Eastern Christian Middle School.
Caliguire was an aide in the 1980s to then Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
Thomas Kean
Thomas Kean
Thomas Howard Kean is an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 48th Governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. Kean is best known globally, however, for his 2002 appointment as Chairman of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, widely known as the...
, where he served as an assistant counsel to the governor and later as Counselor to the Governor, a senior policy advisor. Caliguire left Kean's staff to work in the private practice of law in Bergen County
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
.
During the 1990s, Caliguire was elected to two terms on the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
, which is the county's legislative body. Caliguire surprised political observers when he announced his decision to not seek a third term as a freeholder to keep a term limit pledge.
2005 Gubernatorial campaign
In 2005, Caliguire announced his candidacy for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2005New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2005
The New Jersey gubernatorial election of 2005 was a race for the Governor of New Jersey. It was held on November 8, 2005. Incumbent Democratic Governor Richard Codey, who replaced Governor Jim McGreevey in 2004 after his resignation, did not run for election for a full term of office.The primary...
. Caliguire was considered a long shot candidate for the nomination as he was little known statewide. He raised the least of the seven candidates and had no campaign staff. He came across as the most academic of the candidates and he issued a 150 page campaign plan for what he would do as governor. He finished last in the field of seven. It was reported that his candidacy for governor was aimed to position himself for the Republican nomination for Bergen County Executive in 2006.
2006 Bergen County Executive campaign
Caliguire announced his candidacy for Bergen County Executive in early 2006 and was quickly endorsed by the Bergen County Republican Committee. In March 2006, there was a split between the moderates and the conservatives in the Bergen County Republican Party, which resulted from a fight for the county party chairmanship. Bergen County Clerk Kathleen DonovanKathleen Donovan
Kathleen A. Donovan is an American Republican Party politician, who is currently serving her first term as County Executive of Bergen County, New Jersey. She previously served as County Clerk for four terms, one term in the New Jersey General Assembly...
announced her candidacy for county executive against Caliguire.
Caliguire was formally endorsed by the county Republican party, because of a rule enforced by the county party chairman which said that a candidate needed to have filed a notice of intent to seek the party endorsement before the endorsement meeting. Caliguire had met the deadline, while Donovan announced her candidacy after the deadline.
Thus, only Caliguire's name was presented to endorsement convention delegates, while Donovan did receive support. Donovan quickly recruited Freeholder Elizabeth Randall
Elizabeth Randall
Elizabeth Randall is an American Republican Party politician who serves as a Commissioner of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and served on the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 2003 to 2007...
, who had been running with Caliguire, and Caliguire's running mate for county surrogate, Jae Y. Kim, Esq., to her campaign.
Following a competitive and at times, heated campaign, Caliguire defeated Donovan 51% to 49% for the Republican nomination. He lost to incumbent County Executive
County executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
Dennis McNerney
Dennis McNerney
Dennis McNerney is an American Democratic Party politician who served as the County Executive of Bergen County, New Jersey from 2003 to 2011.McNerney was raised in Teaneck, New Jersey, attending a Catholic grammar school in neighboring Bogota...
60%-40% in the November election.