Governor Mikie Sherrill on Monday endorsed incumbent Orlando Cruz and newcomer Nick Veliky for Passaic County Commissioner and Surrogate Zoila Cassanova, unsurprisingly aligning herself with the Passaic County Democratic organization ahead of the June 2 primary.
Cruz and Veliky are facing a challenge from Al Aljarrah, a senior advisor at CAIR Action NJ, who is seeking a commissioner seat in a county with a rapidly growing Arab American population.
Sherrill, who represented parts of Passaic County during her seven years in Congress, has long-standing ties to the county organization. John Currie, the county Democratic chairman, was an early supporter of Sherrill’s first congressional bid in 2017, when she flipped the Republican-held 11th district to Democratic control, and backed her early in her run for governor.
“Nick Veliky and Orlando Cruz are committed public servants who know how to deliver for the people they represent,” said Sherrill. “They understand the importance of keeping communities strong, supporting families, and making smart investments that improve quality of life and drive down costs for families. I’m proud to support them, along with Surrogate Zoila Cassanova, who continues to serve Passaic County families with care and has a deep respect for the law.”
The Democratic organization slate touted Sherrill’s support and said they were “focused on keeping Passaic County affordable, strengthening services for seniors and families, and delivering results for every community.”
Veliky, the president of the Clifton Democratic Club, is seeking the open seat of Bruce James, a longtime county commissioner who is not seeking re-election this year.
Last year, Sherrill carried Passaic County by a 36%-30% margin against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and four others in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.
