Freeholder Brian Levine this afternoon became director of the Somerset County Freeholder Board.

The vote by the five-member board, which included newly sworn-in Democratic Freeholders Shanel Robinson and Sara Sooy, unanimously backed Levine to succeed Freeholder Pat Walsh.

Walsh is up for reelection this year in what insiders here in Somerset anticipate to be a competitive countywide contest on the heels of Robinson and Sooy snagging two freeholder seats on the board last year.

The balance of power is now 3-2 GOP. If Walsh loses her countywide reelection bid this year, Democrats will seize control of the long-time Republican stronghold.

Former Governor Tom Kean administered the oath to Levine, a former Franklin Township mayor and 2009 candidate for governor.

The crowd at the historic Somerset County Courthouse included former Freeholder Mark Caliguire (pictured below with Hunterdon County Freeholder John Lanza), defeated in 2018 by Robinson and Sooy. The Republican is eyeing a challenge of incumbent Assemblymen Andrew Zwicker and Roy Freiman.

Governor Phil Murphy attended the event, in support of Robinson and Sooy, and former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli – running for governor in 2021 – was in the room. So were state Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick.

After the formal ceremonies ended, the parties spilled into separate downtown watering holes in Somerville, Somerset County Democratic Committee Chair Peg Schaffer leading her troops into Verve; and Somerset County Republican Chairman Al Gaburo rendezvousing with the faithful in Social.