Johnson’s Name Surfaces for Sheriff as the Calls Continue in Bergen
The calls continued in Bergen this afternoon for candidates to replace former Sheriff Mike Saudino, who cleaned out his desk last week after getting caught on tape making racist remarks.
Here’s the latest bundle of names kicking around in Democratic Party circles (there are more, too):
Cathy Madalone, Bergenfield chief.
Robert Kugler, Saddle Brook chief.
Kenneth Ehrenberg, Paramus chief.
One source described the senators as interested in the candidacies of all three (Senator Loretta Weinberg [Madalone]; Senator Paul Sarlo [Kugler]; Senator Joe Lagana [Ehrenberg]).
But it’s fluid.
No one’s locked. No one’s cemented in anyone else’s corner.
There will be a county convention.
People have also been making calls for former Sheriff Leo McGuire and Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D-37).
An early ally of Governor Phil Murphy, Johnson served as Bergen County Undersheriff from 2002-2005, 1999-2001, and as Sheriff from 2001-02.
His path countywide could be complicated by the fact that he jumped out for Murphy while Bergen County Democratic Committee Chairman Lou Stellato was still in a holding pattern. He also embraced Craig Coughlin for speaker when Stellato forces still backed former Speaker Vincent Prieto.
McGuire got caught in the post Joe Ferriero, pro-Governor Chris Christie wave that buried Democrats countywide in 2010.
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