In Bergen, it’s septuagenarian vs. octogenarian

Bergen County Republicans have recruited 82-year-old retired Superior Court Judge Joseph S. Conte as their candidate for Surrogate, potentially pitting him against Democrat Linda Schwager, the 77-year-old former mayor of Oakland.

The longtime incumbent, Democrat Michael Dressler, died last December.

Conte, who spent two decades on the bench, launched a political career last year when he sought a seat on the Franklin Lakes Borough Council.  Conte and his running mate, former school board member Joseph Rosano, ousted incumbent Joel Ansh in the Republican primary; Conte ran 161 votes in front of Ansh.  He was unopposed in the general election.

Gov. Jim Florio nominated Conte to serve as a Superior Court Judge in 1993.

Prior to serving on the bench, Conte served as a municipal court judge in Ringwood, Upper Saddle River, Wallington, and Rochelle Park. He also served as a public defender and library board attorney in Paramus.

In 2014, one year after his judicial retirement, Conte contributed $400 to Democrat James Tedesco’s campaign to unseat Republican incumbent Kathleen Donovan in the Bergen County Executive race.

Conte will run on a slate with Todd Hennessy, who is challenging Tedesco, now a candidate for a fourth term as county executive, and Tim Walsh, who is taking on Bergen County Clerk John Hogan.

Two years ago, Republicans ran an 18-year-old and a 19-year-old for Bergen County Commissioner; they lost by over 20,000 votes.