The new Somerset County Sheriff, Democrat Darren Russo, has named Republican Tim Pino as the Undersheriff, the New Jersey Globe has learned.
Pino came within 238 votes of winning the June 2019 GOP sheriff primary off the line against North Plainfield Chief of Police Bill Parenti and then endorsed Russo.
Russo, a retired Franklin Township police lieutenant, succeeds Republican Frank Provenzano, who did not seek re-election to a seventh term last year.
In 2016, Russo held Provenzano to a 51%-49% win. He defeated Parenti by a 52%-48% margin.
Democrats won control of the Somerset County Board of Freeholders for the first time since 1965.
Pino is a former sheriff’s officer and K-9 commander.