There is speculation in Passaic County that four-term Freeholder James Gallagher might run for re-election as a Republican on the organization line. Gallagher, elected as a Democrat in 1997, 2000, 2003 and 2006, left the Democratic Party last year to run as an Independent candidate for Mayor of Little Falls. He has virtually no shot at a slot on the Democratic line this year.
In 2006, Gallagher was the top vote-getter in the Freeholder race. He outpolled his Democratic running mates by more than 3,000 votes, and ran about 17,000 votes ahead of the Republicans countywide. Republicans think Gallagher could attract enough Democrats and Independents to help them score their first countywide victory since 2001.
Gallagher, the son-in-law of former Paterson Mayor (and GOP gubernatorial candidate) Lawrence "Pat" Kramer, ran a poor third in his bid for Mayor, winning just 10.4% of the vote. But his 537 votes was ten times the margin of victory for the Republican, Michael DeFrancisci, who beat Democrat John Agostinelli by just 55 votes, 45.3%-44.3%.
Kramer has close ties to the Passaic County GOP Chairman, Assemblyman Scott Rumana (R-Wayne).
