Ralph Rivera

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.

Gov. Jon Corzine thinks that Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero should step down from his party post and his job as Counsel to the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission after his indictment this week on federal corruption charges, according to his spokesman.

"Governor Corzine has been consistent and clear in how he feels about political figures under indictment. They should step aside," Sean Darcy, Corzine's press secretary, told PolitickerNJ.com. Last year, Corzine sought the resignation of two Democratic Assemblymen who had been arrested on corruption charges.