Somerset Sheriff candidate withdraws

Seven days after Somerset County Republicans endorsed him for sheriff, Bill Brown has dropped out of the race.

His likely successor to take on two-term Democratic Sheriff Darren Russo is Mike Manochio, a retired Union County homicide detective who was overwhelmingly rejected by GOP county committee members when he received just 16% against Brown at the convention.

“After recent conversations with those closest to me, it has become clear that I need to put my family first and end my campaign,” Brown, a retired SWAT team commander, said in a cryptic message.

Manochio will now have the support of the county chair, Tracy DiFrancesco, who said she would “respect Bill’s request for privacy and keep my focus forward.”

“Mike has the right background and vision to lead the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office in a new direction,” DiFrancesco said.  “Mike will be tough on crime, work with federal immigration enforcement officials, prioritize protecting our schools, and combat the drug epidemic that is destroying lives and livelihoods within our community.”

Russo was elected in 2019, becoming the first Democrat to hold the post since William Sutphen declined to seek a second term in 1934.