Surrency gets support of corrections officers in bid for second term

PBA Local 231, which represents corrections officers at the Cumberland County Jail, has endorsed incumbent Freeholder Jack Surrency in his off-the-line bid for renomination in the July 7 Democratic primary.

Cumberland County Democrats denied party support to Surrency and replaced him on their ticket with Millville Commissioner Bruce Cooper.

“Jack Surrency, Donna Pearson and Tracey Wells-Huggins have the full backing and support of the men and women of PBA Local 231,” said Victor Bermudez, the Local 231 president. “They understand our issues, can articulate our needs, and have the fire and passion that’s needed to fix the systematic flaws in the county jail.”

Cooper is running with incumbents Carol Musso and George Castellini on the organization line with U.S. Senator Cory Booker and Democratic congressional candidate Brigid Callahan Harrison.

Surrency and his slate will run with another Democratic congressional candidate, Amy Kennedy.

Republicans had a surge in 2019 when Michael Testa, Jr. (R-Vineland), the Cumberland County GOP chairman, won a seat in the State Senate, along with two GOP assemblymen.

Last year, Republican Douglas Albrecht won the open freeholder seat of Joseph Sparacio, also a Republican who did not seek re-election.  Democratic incumbent Darlene Barber won the other seat by a margin of just 446 votes over Republican Jeffrey Bordley.

Cumberland just narrowly went Democratic in 2016, with Barber winning re-election by just 591 votes.  Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-Ventnor) won Cumberland by 7,355 votes (56%-40%) and Hillary Clinton outpolled Donald Trump by 3,318 votes, (51%-45%).

Musso was the mayor of Deerfield before her election to the Board of Freeholders in 2011, and was the top vote-getter in 2017, leading Republican Carman Daddario by 3,050 votes.

Castellini, the son of a former Cumberland County sheriff, was elected in 2017.  He finished second in a field of seven candidates, 417 votes behind Musso.

The winner of the primary will face Victoria Lods, a former aide to State Sen. Nichola Asselta (R-Vineland), Antonio Romero and Darwin Cooper in what will be a control election.

Republicans had a surge in 2019 when Michael Testa, Jr. (R-Vineland), the Cumberland County GOP chairman, won a seat in the State Senate, along with two GOP assemblymen.

Last year, Republican Douglas Albrecht won the open freeholder seat of Joseph Sparacio, also a Republican who did not seek re-election.  Democratic incumbent Darlene Barber won the other seat by a margin of just 446 votes over Republican Jeffrey Bordley.

Cumberland just narrowly went Democratic in 2016, with Barber winning re-election by just 591 votes.  Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-Ventnor) won Cumberland by 7,355 votes (56%-40%) and Hillary Clinton outpolled Donald Trump by 3,318 votes, (51%-45%).

Musso was the mayor of Deerfield before her election to the Board of Freeholders in 2011, and was the top vote-getter in 2017, leading Republican Carman Daddario by 3,050 votes.

Castellini, the son of a former Cumberland County sheriff, was elected in 2017.  He finished second in a field of seven candidates, 417 votes behind Musso.

Lods is making her third bid for public office.

She ran for freeholder in 2017 and lost to Surrency by 2,246 votes.  She received 47% of the vote in her 2019 challenge to Cumberland County Clerk Celeste Riley, losing by just 1,422 votes.