The race for U.S. Attorney (Part I)

There's another statewide campaign in New Jersey next winter: the race to succeed Christopher Christie as the United States Attorney - a post that holds considerable power and visibility, and potentially a launching pad for higher public office.   By tradition, federal prosecutors submit their resignations to coincide with the inauguration of a new President. 

If John McCain wins, possible candidate for U.S. Attorney include McCain state campaign director Rick Mroz, a former Chief Counsel to Gov. Christine Todd Whitman; and State Sen. Bill Baroni, the Chairman of McCain's New Jersey campaign.  Mroz runs former Assemblyman/BPU Commissioner Edward Salmon's consulting firm, and is associated with former Cumberland County GOP Chairman Lawrence Pepper's law firm.  Baroni is a Seton Hall University law professor, and has been on Team McCain since 1999, when he worked on the national campaign staff as McCain's advanceman. 

McCain could also go with one of Christie's deputies, like First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ralph Marra or Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Brown.

The selection of Baroni would trigger a series of special elections in the politically competitive fourteenth legislative district.  Republicans would hold a special election convention to replace Baroni - possible candidates would include former Hamilton Mayor Jack Rafferty, Councilwoman Kelly Yaede, and Councilman (and '07 Assembly candidate) Thomas Goodwin.  If Baroni left office before September 2009, there would be a November 2009 special election to fill the remaining 26 months of his term.  The new Republican Senator would face off against a Democrat - possibly Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo, former Hamilton Mayor Glen Gilmore, Mercer County Freeholder Dan Benson, and John Cimino, now a Freeholder candidate.  If Baroni's appointment came after early September '09, the special election would be in November 2010.

The race for an open Senate seat could enhance the competition between Greenstein, who backed down from an '07 Senate race against Baroni after labor leaders weighed in early for the Republican, and DeAngelo, a labor leader who might be more likely to risk his Assembly seat for a shot at the Senate.

Coming soon: who will be U.S. Attorney if Barack Obama is President?