Anthony Cureton, local president of  the NAACP and a retired 25-year career police officer with the Englewood Police Department, emerged today as the Bergen County Democratic Committee leadership choice for county sheriff.

If ultimately successful, Cureton would be the first elected African American sheriff in Bergen County.

Chairman Lou Stellato was making calls this morning to committee members in pursuit of support for Cureton, who would replace former Sheriff Mike Saudino, gone after the surfacing of a tape of him making racist remarks against – among others – blacks.

Cureton led the calls demanding Saudino’s exit.

If Stellato is able to summon party support for his candidate, the retired detective sergeant and adjunct professor at Ramapo College would run in a Nov. 6th special election.

The county party chairman got behind Cureton after Stellato and his leadership team undertook an exhausting week-long search for the suddenly imploded Saudino’s replacement, pressured by a statute which requires a special election for sheriff if a resignation in that office occurs outside the 37-day deadline before the next scheduled election day.

On the same Friday that Saudino vacated his office, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka delivered a stirring and stinging rebuke, appealing to party members at the Democratic State Committee conference to bust through complacency and racism.

Stellato examined other names, including Cathy Madalone, police chief from Bergenfield.

But ultimately he went with Cureton.

His choice will likely have opposition at a party convention, slated for Tuesday.

Saddle Brook Police Chief Robert Kugler also wants a crack at the job.

For their part, Republicans appear poised for a donnybrook between Midland Park Mayor Harry Shortway, Jr. and retired Captain of Detectives Jack DeLorenzo.

Through this long week for Democrats in the aftermath of the Saudino story, some Paramus Democrats fretted about lacking a candidate for sheriff from their home town. Others pushed back, noting the presence on the ticket of incumbent County Executive Jim Tedesco and, running in a special election, state Senator Joe Lagana.