The following is a statement from Passaic County Freeholder T.J. Best in response to a question regarding his 2020 intentions:

“After consultation with family, friends and community leaders as well as the encouragement and support from our State and County Chairman John Currie, I have decided to seek re-election for a 4th term on the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

“It has been both my honor and privilege to have been chosen by the Passaic County Democratic Committee, our Chairman, my neighbors and fellow county residents to serve their interest over the past decade and I plan to continue doing so. I submit my name for re-election knowing that our county government is better today then it was when I took office due to the collective efforts of my colleagues and our knowledgeable and hard working staff who I hope to continue to serve with. The BEST is yet to come!”

Several others have put their names forward in the event that Best did not pursue releection.

Democratic Freeholder Bruce James and Best are both up for reelection this year, and as late as late last week, Best’s 202o intentions remained unknown. At one point, while Best had not confirmed, several Passaic County insiders see him not coming back this year. The onetime Bill Pascrell aide and Democratic Committee member who served as a party delegate at the 2016 Democratic National Convention was said to be ready to move on to other opportunities. His name also continued to circulate as a possible 2022 challenger to Sayegh.

In the lead-up to the holidays, InsiderNJ asked the freeholder about a future citywide run.

“I haven’t taken anything off of the table,” Best said.

In the meantime, others mobilizied for the seat, including Paterson At-Large Councilwoman Lilisa Mimms, Paterson Planning Board Member Wayne Witherspoon, and Rodney DeVore, an aide to Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter.