Emerson police chief says he'll seek GOP sheriff nod
By Matt Friedman | December 11th, 2009 - 4:10pmOn the ballot next year, Bergen County Sheriff Leo McGuire will be sandwiched between county executive and freeholder candidates in what are expected to be tight, hotly contested races.
But McGuire says the sheriff's race will be different.
"The office of the sheriff, as a constitutional office, is not viewed upon as a political football that other positions might be regarded as," said McGuire, who plans to seek a third three-year term in 2010. "And while we each advocate for our individual parties and support candidates, politics has no place in the sheriff's office."
Right now, there are two Republicans who have expressed an intention to run against McGuire for sheriff: Emerson Police Chief Michael Saudino, who is about to become president of the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association; and Dominick Polifrone, an ex-ATF agent who took down Richard "The Iceman" Kuklinski, a mafia hitman from Dumont.
Saudino confirmed that he is running, but wanted to keep the rhetoric down for now.
"It's early in the game and I'm the last guy to sling mud," he said, adding "I don't believe the Bergen County taxpayers are getting our money's worth. I think there's too much money being spent and we're not getting enough in return."
Polifrone could not be reached for comment.
McGuire says that he deserves to be reelected because he's clamped down on overtime, improved the office's technology and brought in three undersheriffs who each have master's degrees and at least 25 years of experience in law enforcement.
"My administration... has been doing the job, doing it on a high level, and we deserve another three years," he said.
McGuire was an Oakland Councilman and police officer when he unseated Republican Sheriff Joel Trella in 2004. He was easily re-elected in 2007.
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McGuire
He'll have a difficult battle. Of all the constitutional offices in Bergen County, the sheriff has become a revolving door since the retirement of Republican Joe Job in 1981.
Job, the former US Marshall under Eisenhowser and former US Senate candidate ran his last race in 1983 when he was defeated for state senate by the late Joe Hirkala in the reformulated 36th district.
Job was replaced by Bill McDowell who then became county executive. Garabedian was his replacement who was defeated by Democrat Bob Herb who was defeated by Jack Terhune. Terhune like McDowell resigned and was replaced by Jay Alpert who was defeated by Democrat Joe Ciccone.
Ciccone was removed from office and Joel Trella upset Assemblyman Ken Zisa for the post. Trella would be defeated McGuire.
Since 1981, the county has had 8 sheriffs if my math is correct.
Vote Column "A" - All the way!
Saudino who?
It takes to the 4th paragraph to find out who is running for sheriff for the GOP and who Saudino is?
Saudino or any other Republican candidate
needs to tell the Bergen County voters that they will be the Joe Araipo of Bergen County.
They have to clean up the illegals on Rt 46 in Pal Park and elsewhere. People are losing their jobs and greedy contractors are robbing the taxpayer blind.
Mc Nerney nor the old guard law enforcement establishment have done anything about this scurge. Illegals are costing us a fortune.
how Saudino uses the police and town counsel
Emerson Chief of police Saudino should not be the Sheriff of Bergen County based on our experience with him on TOWN counsel and how he uses the police...This is our most fervent opinion based on direct experiences which will not be revealed in full here. Seek and you shall find out for yourself how he operates. Saudino is sparking very healthy conversations as he works the room at BC REP gatherings lately...And it's the first time active and established members have ever met him in County REPUBLICAN circles. wink nod cough
Announcing Candidacy
for Bergen County Sheriff in 2011! There that should muddy things up a bit. Just kidding, I would hope that Dominick would run, it would be a great thing for Bergen County...
Anyone who lives in this town
Anyone who lives in this town knows about Mike Saudino's history of repeated assault on his wife. Why would we want him as sheriff of our county?