John Cimino

Speculation that State Sen. Bill Baroni could become the next U.S. Attorney if John McCain wins the presidency has created some discussion among Democrats about who they would support in a 2009 special election to fill his seat.  If Baroni were to resign, Republicans would hold a special election convention to elect a new Senator - possibly former Hamilton Mayor Jack Rafferty - who could then (depending on the timing of the appointment) face a Democrat in a November 2009 special election.  One Mercer County Democratic leader said that former Hamilton Mayor Glen Gilmore could emerge as a serious contender, suggesting that his local popularity is on the upswing after narrowly losing last year to Republican John Bencivengo.

The problem for Gilmore, if he decides to pursue a political comeback as a State Senate candidate, is that the local Democratic bench is wide and deep.  Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein passed on a Senate bid 2007 (when Peter Inverso announced his retirement) after several key labor unions quickly endorsed Baroni.  Greenstein, the top vote getter in the '07 Assembly race and with a significant base in Middlesex County, is unlikely to back down from another Senate fight.

There's another statewide campaign in New Jersey next winter: the race to succeed Christopher Christie as the United States Attorney - a post that holds considerable power and visibility, and potentially a launching pad for higher public office.   By tradition, federal prosecutors submit their resignations to coincide with the inauguration of a new President. 

If John McCain wins, possible candidate for U.S. Attorney include McCain state campaign director Rick Mroz, a former Chief Counsel to Gov. Christine Todd Whitman; and State Sen. Bill Baroni, the Chairman of McCain's New Jersey campaign.  Mroz runs former Assemblyman/BPU Commissioner Edward Salmon's consulting firm, and is associated with former Cumberland County GOP Chairman Lawrence Pepper's law firm.  Baroni is a Seton Hall University law professor, and has been on Team McCain since 1999, when he worked on the national campaign staff as McCain's advanceman. 

McCain could also go with one of Christie's deputies, like First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ralph Marra or Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Brown.

The resignation of Elizabeth Muoio to take a pension-boosting county job means that Democrats will hold a Special Election Convention on March 15 to elect a new Mercer County Freeholder.  Potential candidates include: Mike Maloney of Hamilton, the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union No.

Mercer County Democrats will hold an open convention in 2008, which means that two incumbent Freeholders, Lucy Walter and Tony Mack, won’t automatically get party support if they decide to seek re-election.  Democratic sources say that several candidates are expected to seek the Freeholder nod, including John Cimino, an unsuccessful candidate for Hamilton Councilman last week and the son of former Assemblyman Anthony “Skip” Cimino.

Four Democrats have indicated their interest in running for Mercer County Freeholder, if incumbent Keith Hamilton gives up his seat to challenge GOP Assembyman William Baroni in the 14th district: former Hamilton Councilman Daniel Benson, who lost a 2005 bid for the State Assembly to Baroni; John Cimino, the son of former Assemblyman/state Commissioner of Personnel Anthony "Skip" Cimino; former Hamilton Councilman Wayne DeAngelo; and Princeton Councilman (and former Mercer County Democratic Executive Director) Andrew Koontz. More candidates are expected to enter the race once Hamilton makes his final decision.

Mercer County Democrats say they will pick their candidate in March at an open convention.

Democratic insiders are saying that John Cimino, the son of former Assemblyman and state Personnel Commissioner Anthony "Skip" Cimino, is showing serious interest in challenging two-term Republican Assemblyman William Baroni in 2007. An executive with UBS Securities, LLC, Cimino is a member of the Hamilton Township Redevelopment Agency and the Economic Development Advisory Commission.