Hasbrouck Heights Mayor Tapped As GOP Nominee For Sheriff

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, NJ — Borough Mayor John "Jack" DeLorenzo has been tapped to be the Republican candidate in the special election to fill the office of Bergen County sheriff.

John "Jack" DeLorenzo was announced as the Bergen County Republican Organization's nominee Tuesday night, calling him "a great addition" to the party's ticket of nominees.

Sens. Bob Mendenez and Cory Booker, along with Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5th), all Democrats, have announced their endorsement of Anthony Cureton, an ex-Englewood police officer and head of the Bergen County NAACP.

DeLorenzo could not immediately be reached for comment.

DeLorenzo is a retired 25-year member of the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department. He retired as a detective captain and is an Army veteran, NorthJersey.com reported. DeLorenzo also served three terms on the Hasbrouck Heights Board of Education, according to the report.

Saudino was in the middle of a three-year term before he resigned Friday after a tape of him allegedly making racist and homophobic remarks to fellow officers was recorded and released to the press. (See related: Bergen Sheriff Quits After He's Caught Making Racist Remarks)

In the secret conversation, which was recorded Jan. 16 after Murphy was inaugurated, Saudino allegedly can be heard telling colleagues what he thought Murphy's speech was about: "...let the blacks come in, do what the f--- they want, smoke their marijuana, do this do that," according to WYNC, who first published the recording.

Saudino allegedly complained on the recording that Gurbir Grewal was appointed Attorney General only on the basis of his "turban." Grewal is the nation's first Sikh attorney general.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Image via Shutterstock