(Updated) Reynolds-Jackson stays out of Dem primary for Mercer County Commissioner

This story was updated at 9:28 PM.

Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-Trenton) says she is not taking sides in a competitive Democratic primary for Mercer County Commissioner, pushing back on an earlier report by the New Jersey Globe that she is backing Nakia Barr White against two longtime incumbents, Lucylle Walter and John Cimino.

Reynolds-Jackson, one of twelve Democrats seeking the open seat of retiring Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing), spoke at a campaign event for Barr White, where her comments sounded like an endorsement.

“Run, Nakia,” she said.  “Let’s go win this.”

But Reynolds-Jackson told the New Jersey Globe on Tuesday evening that she is not taking sides.

“I’m supportive of Nakia.  I’m supportive of Lucy.  I’m supportive of John.  People have to make up their own minds,” Reynolds-Jackson said.  “I’m supportive but not endorsing.”

Earlier today, the Reynolds-Jackson campaign did not dispute her endorsement of White Barr, a former vice president at Princeton University.

Although all three candidates secured the endorsement of the Mercer County Democratic Committee, Walter and Cimino are running on a joint line in the primary.  Reynolds-Jackson won the Mercer organization endorsement.

This is the first real contest for county office in Mercer in eighteen years, when Walter and Cimino beat four-term incumbent Tony Mack in the Democratic primary.  Mack had been elected freeholder in 1996 and was joined on the ticket by Walter in 1999; Cimino beat Mack at the 2008 convention, and then, with the line, defeated Mack in the primary by a 4-1 margin.