Veteran Bergen Freeholder Steve Tanelli is the only frontrunner in a contest to succeed Assemblywoman Marlene Caride (D-36) in the event of a vacancy, a Bergen Democratic Party source told InsiderNJ.

Caride could very well stay put districtwide for the November general election. But sources say she is a potential candidate for lieutenant governor on the ticket with Democratic gubernatorial nominee Phil Murphy.

Murphy has to make his intentions known by the end of next week.

A senior art director for Movado Group Inc. in Paramus, and former Director and member of the North Arlington Recreation Commission, Tanelli is a resident of North Arlington.

There are other names, however, and they include: former Bergen Freeholder Bernadette McPherson, Cliffside Mayor Tom Calabrese, possibly Little Ferry's Mauro Raguseo, Rutherford Councilwoman Stephanie McGowan, and South Hackensack Committeewoman Yris Encarnacion.