Joseph Spicuzzo

Middlesex County Democratic Party Chairman Joseph Spicuzzo knew the late Freeholder Director David Crabiel going back to when Spicuzzo became mayor of Spotswood in 1976.

“The taxpayers lost a true friend today,” Spicuzzo told PolitickerNJ.com.

“He first of all had the taxpayers in mind whenever he made a decision,” Spicuzzo added of the 27-year freeholder veteran who died today at age 78. “He ran Middlesex County government like a fine-toothed machine. He was Mr. Middlesex.”

The county will be issuing a statement shortly, according to the Office of the Administrator.

Middlesex County Democratic Party Chairman Joseph Spicuzzo said he will award the organization line to the winners of the March 5 party convention – including U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

“I am bound by the decisions made by our Democratic committeemen and committeewomen during that nominating convention,” said Spicuzzo. “I am aware, of course, that there is a significant difference of opinion being expressed by several of our party leaders. However, at least during the years of my chairmanship, we have awarded the line and its slogan, ‘Middlesex County Democratic Organization,’ to those winners.”

It looks like Frank Lautenberg will have the organization line in Middlesex County, despite support for Rob Andrews by three Democratic State Senators and a large group of local elected officials.  Andrews backers had sought an open primary in a county that had previously endorsed the 84-year-old incumbent for re-election to a fifth term.

Four more Democratic County Chairs today endorsed Hillary Clinton for President: Charlotte DeFilippo of Union, Sheriff Joseph Spiczuzzo of Middlesex, James Pickering of Cape May and Louis Magazzu of Cumberland. Clinton was in New Jersey today, speaking to the annual Democratic State Committee conference in Atlantic City.