Patricia Kolb

One week before the primary election, New Jersey County Clerks resisted the temptation to extend their Memorial Day vacations by an extra day.

Senate Minority Leader Leonard "Bi-Partisan" Lance has taken sides in an intra-party squabble in Warren County, home to about 45% of the Republican primary voters in Lance's 23rd district. Lance told the Express Times that he would ask Governor Jon Corzine not to appoint an Acting County Clerk next month when longtime GOP incumbent Terrance Lee will resign. Warren County Republican leaders voted on Monday to recommend Chad Chamberlain, the son of Freeholder Everett Chamberlain, for appointment to replace Lee. But other Republicans want Deputy County Clerk Patricia Kolb to get the job. Kolb has already announced her intention to run in the June primary.

Assemblyman Michael Doherty, a former Warren County Freeholder, has not endorsed any candidate for the post. Bu he opposed any endorsement of an Acting County Clerk by the county GOP, saying that he doesn't like appointments to elected office to be made by insiders. Perhaps coincidentally, Doherty announced earlier this month that he would not challenge Lance in the 2007 GOP State Senate primary.

Warren County has no organization lines in Republican primaries.

Warren County Clerk Terry Lee's decision to resign his post at the end of the year could spark an internal fight among Warren County Republicans. Insiders say two people want to succeed Lee, who has served as Clerk since 1978: Deputy Clerk Patricia Kolb and pharmacist Chad Chamberlain, the son of Freeholder Everett Chamberlain.

Governor Jon Corzine will appoint a replacement for Lee, with the advice and consent of the State Senate; state law requires Corzine to name a Republican. Kolb, who has told party leaders she intends to run for Clerk in the June GOP primary, will serve as Acting Clerk until Corzine names a replacement -- or until January 2008, if the Governor declines to act. (Corzine did not appoint a new Burlington County Surrogate after the death of Elton Conda earlier this year.) Chamberlain, who serves on the Warren County Municipal Utilities Authority, seems to be actively seeking the post. Lee is backing Kolb.

There is some speculation that the younger Chamberlain might get the support of Warren GOP Chairman Douglas Steinhardt, whose law firm would like to receive the elder Chamberlain's support to become the new County Counsel. Steinhardt is a partner at Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & Fader, with former Governor James Florio and former Warren County Democratic Chairman Michael Perrucci. The current County Counsel is Joseph Bell, a former Morris County Clerk who has held the post for many years.