Passaic County Democrats have picked educator Rodney De Vore to run for county commissioner as they seek to take back a seat Republicans picked off in 2021.
De Vore, a former aide to Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, will run with incumbents John Bartlett and Sandi Lazzara. This was the Paterson resident’s second bid for county commissioner; he screened in 2020.
Republicans have not yet picked running mates for Commissioner Nicolino Gallo, who narrowly ousted Asaad Akhter three years ago. He is expected to seek re-election.
“This talented group of leaders will represent Passaic County well,” said John Currie, the Democratic county chairman. “Their collective experience and vision will ensure that Passaic County continues to thrive. We encourage all residents to support them in the upcoming elections.”
Democrats will pick their candidate to succeed the late Sheriff Richard Berdnik next month.
Lazzara (52,552) was the top vote-getter in the last election, followed by Bartlett (51,515) and Gallo (51,155). Republicans Lucy Aileen Rivera (50,614), Bill Marsala (50,503), and Akhter (50,416) followed. Lazzara is the daughter of former State Sen. Joseph Lazzara.
Democrats want to enhance their current majority from 6-1 to 7-0.
Presidential years are better for Democrats; Joe Biden won Passaic County by sixteen percentage points in 2020, and T.J. Best beat Marsala in the commissioner race by more than 14,000 votes.
The Passaic line will be headed by U.S. Senate candidate Tammy Murphy, and Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff), Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-Paterson), and Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair).