Valerie Huttle

Possibly afraid of a sneak attack by the Bergen County Democratic Organization, 37th district incumbents Loretta Weinberg, Gordon Johnson and Valerie Vainieri Huttle did not file to participate in the Clean Elections public financing program. Their GOP opponents did. In the heavily Republican 24th, the three Democratic candidates filed; Republicans oppose public financing there.

State Sen. Loretta Weinberg and Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero are a team: Democrats said today that Weinberg, Assemblyman Gordon Johnson and Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle will run on the BCDO line in the June Democratic primary with incumbent Freeholders Tomas Padilla, Elizabeth Calabrese and James Carroll.  Three Freeholder candidates initially recruited by Weinberg will remain on the ballot, as will her Sheriff candidate against incumbent Leo McGuire.

Statement from State Senator Loretta Weinberg, Assemblyman Gordon Johnson, and Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle on the Democratic primary:

Weinberg Ally Violet Cherry Subpoenaed by United States Attorney’s Office in Criminal Probe

Sources close to Valerie Huttle, the likely winner of a State Assembly seat in the 37th district next month, say that she will serve out the remainder of her term on the Bergen County Board of Freeholders and not seek re-election to that post in 2006. There has been some speculation that Huttle would step down from her county post if she won election to the Legislature. Huttle, the source says, wants to continue her role as a Democratic Freeholder not controlled by her pary's leadership -- which means she is simpy uncomfortable allowing County Chairman Joseph Ferriero the opportunity to fille her Freeholder seat with someone who might be less independent. There is no legal impediment to dual officeholding: in Passaic County, Peter Eagler has been an Assemblyman and Freeholder for the past four years.

The Senate has not yet scheduled a session for Loretta Weinberg to take the oath of office, and that may not happen until after the general election. In the meantime, she remains an Assemblywoman. At such time that she does resign, Bergen County Democrats will need to call a Special Election Convention within 7-35 days to fill the remaining weeks of her current term. Presumably Huttle wil win that. Watch for Ferriero to call the meeting closer to the 35th day, just to bug Huttle.