Michael Manochio, a Branchburg resident and former Union County homicide detective, will seek the Republican nomination for Somerset County Sheriff to take on two-term Democratic Sheriff Darrin Russo.
Manochio worked for nearly three decades in the Union and Essex county prosecutor offices, according to a release. Manochio said he will work with all state and federal law enforcement agencies to stop violent undocumented criminals and stifle fentanyl.
“I am eager to bring my leadership, experience and commitment to justice to the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office,” he said in a release.
Manochio is the second Republican to announce a campaign. Bill Brown, a former SWAT Team commander and Marine veteran, announced his candidacy earlier this week.
Russo, a former Franklin Township police lieutenant, first ran for sheriff in 2016 and came within 1,286 votes of ousting six-term Republican Frank Provenzano, 50.4% to 49.6%. Provenzano retired in 2019, and Russo defeated North Plainfield Police Chief Bill Parenti by a 52%-48% margin. He won 55% in his 2022 re-election bid.
RELATED ARTICLES
-
June 19, 2019 -
June 5, 2019 -
January 22, 2019