WHO’S NEXT?
Frisby, Verrelli considered frontrunners for Muoio’s Assembly seat, sources say >>
TRENTON » With Assemblywoman Liz Muoio accepting the treasurer position in Gov.elect Phil Murphy’s administration, there is a frenzy to find her successor.
So far the names to drop of people who are interested in the 15th District Legislative seat include Mercer County Freeholders Sam Frisby, Anthony Verrelli and Lucylle R. S. Walter, Lawrence Councilwoman Cathleen Lewis, Ewing Council President Sarah Steward, Ewing Councilwoman Jennifer Keyes-Maloney, Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami-Covello, West Windsor Councilwoman Ayesha Hamilton, Grace Strom Powers and former PBA Local 105 President Lance Lopez, sources say.
“Between social media and phone calls and just knowing all the people, it’s been a lot of interest,” Mercer County Democratic Committee Chairwoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson said Friday, declining to name who has expressed interest. “We’ve got some big stuff going on. I’m super excited, though. I think it’s just a great opportunity for Assemblywoman Muoio and just a great opportunity for us. I think throughout the country we’re talking about new leadership and this is definitely happening in Mercer County.”
Three years ago, an almost identical captivating race occurred when U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12) left her 15th district seat after she was elected as the state’s first African-American woman in Congress.
Frisby, with the backing of former Trenton Mayor Douglas Palmer and current Mayor Eric Jackson, was beat out by Muoio, who had the support of her boss, Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes.
Things got a little ugly, but before the Democratic convention started, Frisby opted out of the race, solidifying Muoio’s ascension to the seat.
Sources say Frisby, a Trenton resident, is again considered a frontrunner for the job. And this time around, there will again likely be a battle for the seat as one of his colleagues on the freeholder board, Verrelli, has also expressed a great interest.
“It’s between Verrelli and Frisby,” one source told The Trentonian. “Verrelli wants it bad and so does Frisby. Sam wants it, he wants to do it. He’s trying to maneuver and take his time. I know Verrelli does want it and his people are working to make it happen.”
On Friday night, Frisby confirmed he is “considering” a run but said he hasn’t “made a definitive decision yet.”
“These last 72 hours since the news broke have really been hectic,” said Frisby, who is CEO of the YMCA of Trenton. “I’ve gotten a lot of calls, I’ve gotten a lot of support. I’m kind of reserving my right to say whether or not I’m actually going to run until I finish really vetting this through my family and my team. I just really want to sort all this out and understand where we are.”
Verrelli, a president of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America Local Union 254 who lives in Hopewell Township, is hoping to wield the support of unions. He did not return a message seeking comment.
If the two emerge as finalists for the position, it can present the same conundrum as three years ago.
Before Muoio was chosen to succeed Watson Coleman, the seat was held by African-Americans the past 33 years, beginning with the congresswoman’s father, John S. Watson, in 1982. The seat was then held by State Sen. Shirley Turner for four years from 1994 until 1997, and she was succeeded by Watson Coleman.
“Whoever sits in that seat, it should be someone that Congresswoman Watson Coleman really wants to see in that seat,” Frisby said. “That’s a legacy seat. There’s a lot that went into getting that seat and there’s a lot of history there for not just African-Americans but for Trentonians — people that lived in this city and really believed in the tenets of the Democratic party and they put a lot of stock in getting that seat. So I think that we’d like to see someone that is going to represent this city and represent this city well.”
Frisby said Muoio was an “excellent choice” for the seat three years ago.
“Liz did a phenomenal job,” the freeholder said. “We are definitely losing a superstar in Assemblywoman Muoio.”
As for the process that will follow, the head of the Mercer County Dems said Friday the vacancy will occur at the end of January or February when Muoio is confirmed by the State Senate.
A convention will be held by the Democratic committee members of LD15 to vote on an interim successor, who will hold office until the next general election in November 2018, Reynolds-Jackson said.
An election will then be held for the remainder of the twoyear seat’s term, which is from November 2018 to December 2019.