Essex County Freeholders today voted to extend the insurance contract for Conner Strong and Buckelew, the firm of South Jersey Power Broker George Norcross III, but did not approve a new three-year contract for the boss.

The vote for an etension was 8-1, with Freeholder President Brendan Gill voting “no.”

“I think to give them time to shop,” said a politics watcher.

The South Jersey-based power broker who got behind Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo at the outset of his 18-year career as executive, Norcross – and ward Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) – late last year failed to prevent Essex County Democratic Committee Chairman LeRoy Jones from cutting a deal with Democratic State Party Chairman John Currie sooner than prioritize Norcross’ Southern Strategy.