Somerset County Republicans endorsed Bill Brown for Sheriff and John Sweeney for Surrogate at their convention tonight while backing favorite son Jack Ciattarelli by acclamation.
Brown, a former SWAT Team commander and Marine veteran, won 179-34 against Michael Manochio, a former Union County homicide detective. Sweeney, the Peapack and Gladstone Council President, defeated former Bernards Township Police Chief Brian Bobowicz, 146-63.
Nick Cuozzo will mount his second bid for county commissioner; he lost last year. The Bernards Township planning board member was unopposed at tonight’s convention.
Democrats are running three incumbents: two-term Sheriff Darren Russo, Surrogate Bernice “Tina” Jalloh, who is seeking a second term, and Melonie Marano, a two-term county commissioner.
Former State Sen. Christopher Bateman (R-Branchburg) was endorsed for Republican State Committeeman, although it’s unclear whether the office will be on the ballot at all in June. The legislature passed a bill eliminating the direct election of State Committee members – instead, the county committee would elect them – but Gov. Phil Murphy has not yet signed the legislation into law.
The incumbent, Chris Corsini, is not seeking re-election. Bateman was unopposed.
Ciattarelli was the only major gubernatorial candidate to seek the endorsement of the Somerset GOP organization. Former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac and Monica Brinson were also in attendance.
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