How do Sheriff's fare in their bids for higher office? Typically a Sheriff declines to give up the security of their office -- the last elected county law enforcement officials to lose re-election were Republican Joel Trella in Bergen County in 2004 and Democrat James Forcinito in Cumberland County in 1999. Despite the traditional popularity of a Sheriff, their successes in running for another office tend to be mixed. Republican Bill McDowell was elected Bergen County Executive in 1986 and Democrat Thomas D'Alessio captured the Essex County Executive post in 1990. Both served just one term: McDowell walked away on his own, D'Alessio taken out in handcuffs.
Gloucester County Sheriff John Hunt was elected to Congress in 1966 and served until Jim Florio beat him in 1974. Passaic County Sheriff Frank Davenport, a Republican, won a State Senate seat in a Democratic district in the Democratic landside of 1973. Cape May Sheriff Beech Fox lost a challenge to Democratic Congressman Bill Hughes in 1980. The last two Burlington County Sheriffs, Gary Daniel (1999) and Jean Stanfield (2003), have failed to unseat incumbent Democratic Assemblymen. Gilbert Lugossey, who retired as Mercer County Sheriff, lost a 1991 race for Mercer County Freeholder and a State Senate race to Republican Peter Inverso in 1997. His successor, Sheriff Samuel Plumeri, lost to Inverso in 2001.
Michael Doherty. a West Point graduate and one of the state's most conservative legislators, will take his seat in the State Senate today. A ... >
Everybody needs to start a new job with a list of priorities and Chris Christie is no exception. There might be a thousand things that need to get ... >
Political discourse in America contains much in the way of intellect or intellectual honesty. One considers the Federalist Papers with wistful awe: ... >
As pundits and party leaders look to next year’s Congressional elections in NJ, it appears that freshman Democrat John Adler is the most vulnerable ... >
When will NJ Republicans start acting like Republicans rather than Democrats. Time to stand up for your principles, assuming they have any left. >
As in any transition, speculation is rampant as to whom Governor-elect Chris Christie will appoint as Chief of Staff, State Treasurer, and Attorney ... >
Now that the dust has finally settled after the grueling campaign for governor, there are a number of lessons that we can draw from this ... >
When he was growing up, Chris Christie's folks must have taught him that when he went to a new playground, he should pick a fight with the ... >
Back in 1974, when NYC was facing a mounting financial crisis, then-Mayor Abe Beame went to then-President Ford and asked for financial help from ... >
New Jersey voters repudiated Governor Jon Corzine's policies of the past four years on November 3rd. Republican Chris Christie and Independent ... >