James Plousis

A lawsuit filed against Hackensack Police Chief Ken Zisa alleging that he extorted campaign contributions from police officers for his campaigns for State Assembly and for other candidates is likely to end Bergen County Freeholder Tomas Padilla's campaign for U.S. Marshal.  Padilla, a Hackensack police captain, is Zisa's co-defendant.  While the allegations against Zisa and Padilla remain unproven, it is unlikely that the White House would nominate a candidate for a federal law enforcement post while a lawsuit that alleges political shakedowns and retaliations against police officers hangs over his head.

Look for Padilla to drop his bid to succeed U.S. Marshal James Plousis soon.  This could put Bergen County Sheriff Leo McGuire, who dropped out and endorsed Padilla, back in the game.  Padilla reportedly had the backing of U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-Hoboken), while U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-Cliffside Park) is reportedly supporting Lourdes Timberman Correa, a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Marshal's office. 

Bergen County Sheriff Leo McGuire formally withdrew from the race for U.S. Marshal today and endorsed fellow Democrat Tomas Padilla, a Hackensack police captain and Bergen County Freeholder. McGuire, who touted endorsements from U.S. Reps. Steven Rothman (D-Fair Lawn), Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson) and Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch), says he wants to continue his work as Sheriff.

“Upon consulting with my family and friends and after careful consideration I have come to the conclusion that the best interests of the people will be best served by remaining Sheriff of Bergen County,” said McGuire.  “In a very short time as Sheriff, my team has been able to enhance the Office, professionalize the staff, and help make Bergen County a safer place for all. I am proud to be Sheriff and feel my work is far from finished.”

Bergen County Sheriff Leo McGuire has withdrawn his name for consideration for U.S. Marshal, and is instead recommending Bergen County Freeholder Tomas Padilla for the post.  Former Mercer County Sheriff Samuel Plumeri, the Director of Security for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, has been actively seeking the post.

In February, U.S. Rep. Steven Rothman had backed McGuire over Padilla and sent a letter to Democratic U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez asking that the Sheriff replace Republican James Plousis in the U.S. Marshal post.

The massive number of new appointments being processed by the White House has the vetting process a little backed up.  That has caused a delay in President Barack Obama's formal nomination of Paul Fishman as New Jersey's new U.S. Attorney.  Because he has won endorsements from U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, Fishman has the job.  But Obama won't nominate him until the vetting is done, and he must still compete with other nominees waiting to be confirmed on a busy Senate calendar.  In the meantime, Ralph Marra, Jr. will continue to serve as Acting U.S. Attorney.

Also delayed is the appointment of a new U.S. Marshal to replace Republican James Plousis.  Lautenberg and Menendez have not yet made a recommendation to the White House, and that is where the process begins.  The candidates in that race are the same: Samuel Plumeri, the Director of the Port Authority Police and a former Mercer County Sheriff, and Gov. Jon Corzine's choice; Bergen County Sheriff Leo McGuire, who has the backing of U.S. Rep. Steven Rothman (D-Fair Lawn); and Bergen County Freeholder Director Tomas Padilla, who is also a Hackensack policeman.

Add another name to the list of possible candidates for U.S. Marshal: Tomas Padilla, the Bergen County Chairman.  Sources with direct knowledge of the appointment process suggest that Padilla, a Latino and a career law enforcement official - he's a Hackensack police captain - could quickly emerge as a serious contender for the federal post if he tells decision makers he's interested.   Padilla , a Freeholder since 2002, would become the first Latino to serve as New Jersey's U.S. Marshal.

If Padilla became U.S. Marshal, the Bergen County Democratic Committee would need to hold a special election convention to replace him on the Board of Freeholders.  In November 2009, there would be a special election to fill the remaining fourteen months on Padilla's term - provided that the vacancy occurs before early September.)  This would put three of the seven Democratic seats on the Freeholder Board up for grabs this fall.

The race for U.S. Marshal has no clear favorite, according to Democratic sources familiar with the selection process.  The leading candidates are former Mercer County Sheriff Samuel Plumeri, who now heads security at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Bergen County Sheriff Leo McGuire.  Gov. Jon Corzine is pushing Plumeri, but the recommendation of importance will come from the state’s two Democratic U.S. Senators. Plumeri and McGuire are both actively seeking the post.

Bergen County Sheriff Leo McGuire, with Freeholder David L. Ganz, is a possible candidate for U.S. Marshal in the Obama administration

There are reports from some Democratic insiders that Bergen County Sheriff Leo McGuire is testing the waters to see if he can become the next U.S. Marshal from New Jersey -- a race where there are essentially two voters, U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez.  Both Senators enjoy a good relationship with McGuire.

McGuire, who was not included in early Democratic short lists because of his interest in running for Bergen County Executive in 2010, is suddenly warming to the idea of leaving his county post to succeed James Plousis, a Republican who is expected to leave office at the end of the Bush administration.  

If McGuire resigns to become federal marshal, Gov. Jon Corzine would appoint an Acting Sheriff to replace him.  That could be problematic for the Governor, since he would need sign off from at least four State Senators from Bergen County to get the Senate to confirm his nomination -- not an easy task, since he'll need Paul Sarlo and Loretta Weinberg to back the same candidate.

Getty Images Photo

Port Authority Police Superintendent Samuel Plumeri has won key support to become New Jersey's next U.S. Marshal

Samuel Plumeri, a former Mercer County Sheriff and Democratic County Chairman, is emerging as a leading candidate for U.S. Marshal, according to Democratic sources.  The current Marshal, James Plousis, a Republican and former Cape May County Sheriff, is expected to resign by Janaury 20, 2009, so that Barack Obama can nominate his own candidate, with the advise and consent of New Jersey's two U.S. Senators.  Sources say that Plumeri has the backing of Gov. Jon Corzine, and U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, though uncommitted, reportedly has no problems with Plumeri.  The state's other U.S. Senator, Robert Menendez, has not yet indicated a choice.

The 61-year-old Plumeri has served as Director of Public Safety and Superintendent of Police for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.  He joined the Port Authority as New Jersey Director of Government and Community Affairs in 2002 after narrowly losing a bid for State Senator to GOP incumbent Peter Inverso in 2001. 

U.S. Marshal James Plousis, a Republican, is expected to lose his job when Barack Obama becomes President

One campaign certain to get underway soon is the race for U.S. Marshal, a post that will flip from Republican to Democrat next year.  James Plousis, a former Cape May County Sheriff who was named U.S. Marshal by George W. Bush in 2002, is expected to follow tradition and offer his resignation effective with the start of Barack Obama's presidency on January 20, 2009.  Plousis' predecessor was Glen Cunningham, who was a former Jersey City Police Officer and City Councilman before Bill Clinton named him in 1996.  New Jersey's two United States Senators, Frank Lautenberg and Bob Menendez, will effectively pick the next federal marshal.

One Democratic leader close to the senior U.S. Senator suggests that Lautenberg's choice could be Mitchell Sklar, his former Legislative Assistant who is now the Executive Director of the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police.  Lautenberg is also backing Paul Fishman, a former Justice Department official in the Clinton administration, for U.S. Attorney.  Menendez has not reportedly not yet focused on this particular position.

Cunningam was the only African American to serve as New Jersey's U.S. Marshal.  All his predecessors where white men.

While the shot list has not yet developed, expect several names to come off quickly: Democratic insiders say it won't be Atantic County Sheriff James McGettigan, who lost his bid for re-election to a sixth term last week and needs a job.  And it is not likely to be Bergen County Sheriff Leo McGuire, whose ties to indicted Democratic County Chairman Joseph Ferriero won't help his chances (and besides, he wants to run for County Executive in 2010 when Democrats dump Dennis McNerney). 

Among the people likely to lose their jobs if Barack Obama is elected President next month: Republican Joel Trella, who was hired by U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie as a Security Manager after losing his bid for re-election as Bergen County Sheriff in 2004; Alan Steinberg, a former Kean/Whitman administration official who served as Chief of Staff to Essex County Executive James Treffinger, will be replaced as the Regional Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and U.S. Marshal James Plousis, a former Cape May County Sheriff.