HUDSON COUNTY — Hudson County Sheriff Juan Perez, who was a Democrat but recently lost support of the local party toward his re-election bid, officially changed his registration to Republican on Friday.
Whether Perez will get Republican support in his bid to run for reelection still remains to be seen, according to Robert Knapp, a spokesman for Perez.
However, Knapp said the Hudson County Republicans have tried to recruit Perez to run for the sheriff’s post before.
The sheriff has jumped ship from the Democrats because the party has thrown its weight behind Frank Schillari, a former undersheriff in the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office whom Perez fired earlier today. With HCDO support going to Schillari, winning the June 6 Democratic primary was a long shot for Perez.
Now he can face a Democrat in November, should he get the Republican nomination.
Winning could still be a long shot in a county where Democrats outnumber Republicans. But it’s likely that Perez, one of the most prominent Latino officials in Hudson County, will receive heavy support from Gov. Chris Christie.
Despite the party switch, Knapp said Perez is still keeping his options open and could still decide to run as an Independent. Whether he runs as a Republican or as an Independent, the sheriff’s race between Perez and Schillari will now certainly outlast the June primary season and will now push on into the fall general election.
In addition, Perez sent a press release this afternoon explaining why he fired Schillari (see prevous story at www.hudsonreporter.com):
I have exercised the powers under NJAC 40A:9-115 which states that “the appointment of an undersherrif shall be in writing under the hand and seal of the sherrif and nothing in this section shall prevent the sheriff at his pleasure from removing an undersheriff.”
The position of undersheriff is one of a confidential and sensitive nature and requires the full trust and confidence of the sheriff. It is evident through the actions of Undersheriff Schillari that he is not in compliance with the requirements of the sacred trust of the office and for a period of time has undermined my authority.”
The release does not get more specific. E. Assata Wright