A career law enforcement officer is taking steps to seek the GOP nomination for Passaic County Sheriff, where a jarring Democratic primary could create a narrow path for the Republicans to win.
Marla Saracino, who is in the process of retiring after 25 years in the narcotics division of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s office, is considered the top choice of Passaic County Republican Chairman Peter Murphy, the New Jersey Globe has learned.
The sudden death of Democrat Richad Berdnik in January has led to a primary fight between Thomas Adamo, a chief in the sheriff’s office, and Paterson Police Director Jerry Speziale, who served as sheriff from 2002 to 2010.
Adamo is running on the Democratic organization line, but Speziale, with his own political base and a huge warchest, is the most formidable off-the-line candidate Passaic County has seen in decades.
Saracino, a prosecutor’s office detective captain, is the chair of the County Narcotics Commanders Association of New Jersey. She could become the first woman sheriff in North Jersey,
Republicans think a divisive primary could help them build an unlikely coalition for the general election, even in a presidential election year that strongly favors Democrats in a county that is winnable for the GOP only under narrow circumstances. Berdnik won 63% in 2016 and while Republicans won some countywide races in 2009, 2014 and 2021 — and controlled county government until 2001 — they haven’t scored a win in a presidential year since 1992.
While it’s still early, the early bet is against a unity breakfast between Adamo and Speziale, where attacks between the two sides has already become toxic.
Passaic County Republicans are meeting on Wednesday to finalize their pick.
All three candidates live in Wayne. Adamo was a Republican until recently and his late father was a GOP freeholder.