Bill McDowell

Bergen County Democrats continue to list Sheriff Leo McGuire as a top candidate for County Executive next year, if Dennis McNerney does not seek re-election to a third term.  McNerney's political future is somewhat dependant on the outcome of former Democratic County Chairman Joseph Ferriero's federal corruption trial.  While McNerney has not been accused on any wrong doing, some insiders say that his extraordinarily close ties to Ferriero might be a reason why Democrats ask him to find another job.

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 Democrat James McGettigan in Atlantic County in 2008, 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.

Some very optimistic Bergen County Republicans are thinking ahead to 2010, when two-term County Executive Dennis McNerney is up for re-election.  The GOP believes they could have a shot at the post they held from 1986 to 2003, if New Jersey has a Republican governor.  And some Democrats say that McNerney could be weakened if federal prosecutors convict former Democratic County Chairman Joseph Ferriero after his corruption trial this fall.

The Republicans who receive the most attention as potential County Executive candidates are: County Clerk Kathleen Donovan, Assemblyman David Russo (R-Ridgewood), and former Bogota Mayor Steven Lonegan.  If the Bergen County Democratic Organization pulls their support from McNerney, look for Surrogate Michael Dressler, Sheriff Leo McGuire, and outgoing Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes to be among the top candidates.

Superior Court Judge Harold Hollenbeck will reach the mandatory retirement age of seventy on December 29, possibly ending a career in public service that began with his election to the East Rutherford Borough Council in 1966. But some Republican insiders say that Hollenbeck could be the GOP’s strongest candidate to challenge Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney in 2010.

Hollenbeck was elected to the State Assembly in 1967, at the age of 29, as part of a Republican sweep of Bergen County in the second mid-term election of Democratic Gov. Richard Hughes. After two terms in the Assembly, he won a State Senate seat in 1971.

Services for Bill McDowell, who became the first Bergen County Executive in 1986, will be held at 10AM on Thursday at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in North Arlington.  McDowell, 80, passed away on Friday.

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.