Richard McClellan

Republican Mercer County Sheriff candidate Jim McSorley said that three OPRA requests he filed last week for information about the sheriff’s office have either been ignored or have been answered with incomplete information.

McSorley, a retired state police captain who’s challenging incumbent Democrat Kevin Larkin, said that he was informed that the office has not kept a table of organization for the last three years.

“Each local police department in Mercer County has a table of organization to serve the same purpose. Even McDonald’s doesn’t run without a table of organization and the fact that Sheriff Larkin has been running his office in such a reckless manner for so many years once again proves his record of mismanagement,” said McSorley.

State Democratic Party Chairman Joseph Cryan address the crowd at Obama HQ on Saturday.: Politicker photo

WEST WINDSOR - The sense here on Saturday is the presidential race is no longer deadlocked nationally.

At this moment.

So when State Democratic Chairman Joseph Cryan asks the crowd of 260 Obama canvassers to demonstrate an upbeat mood, they respond with full-throated gusto in the packed headquarters of Obama’s campaign headquarters.

No one committed to a candidate in this cycle lets pass an opportunity to celebrate the good fortune of his or her presidential aspirant, be he Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) or Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

To hear the media tell the story, the fortunes appear too transient.

If this event occurred a week ago, the mood would have been borderline gloomy. But today Washington is mulling a $700 billion bail-out package for a flat-lining Wall Street and Sen. John McCain - longtime champion of deregulation in the private sector - also lugs a five-day old burden of suggesting that America’s economy is fundamentally sound.

PRINCETON - Gov. Jon Corzine's Tuesday night shout-out to 4thJosh Zeitz Congressional District candidate Josh Zetiz was the governor's second public hurrah in as many weeks for the underdog Democrat challenging U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-4). 

Corzine spearheaded a Zeitz fund-raising event at a Trenton restaurant last week, and plugged the professor's candidacy at his governor's gala for the State Democratic Committee last night.

Zeitz's allies in Mercer County took notice.

Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes, left, and Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer, served as delegates at the party's convention. 

TRENTON - At their standing room only convention in the Masonic Temple on Saturday, Mercer County Democrats selected two full-term candidates for their county freeholder slate in November, and a third to fill the unexpired term of Freeholder Elizabeth Muio. 

The winners were incumbent Freeholder Lucy Walter of Ewing and banker John Cimino of Hamilton for the three-year term seats, and Dan Benson of Hamilton for the unexpired term.

Next month, two major Democratic county strongholds will see important internal party contests.

Mercer County is set to see a significant turnover during its March 15th county committee convention. Its Democratic Chairman, Richard McClellan, plans to step down shortly. Meanwhile, Freeholder Elizabeth Muoio will resign on March 1st, giving a number of Democratic hopefuls a chance to take over her seat. Failing to win Muoio’s seat, some of those candidates may challenge Democratic incumbents Tony Mack and Lucy Walter, whose terms expire this year.

In neighboring Middlesex County, Freeholder John Pulomena has resigned so that the board can appoint him to a position as county administrator, while Freeholder Camille Fernicola has said that she will not seek another term.

Mercer County Dem Chair Richard McClellanMercer County Democratic Party Chairman Richard McClellan announced this week that he is stepping down as chair of the party, and has already informed State Party Joseph Cryan, according to Democratic Party sources. 

Contacted for a comment, Cryan said he is not aware of the specific date for McClellan's departure.