CODEY ENDORSES FONTOURA FOR ESSEX COUNTY SHERIFF

LIVINGSTON –This morning former Governor and current state Senator Richard Codey threw his support behind Sheriff Armando Fontoura by endorsing him in his bid for re-election as Essex County Sheriff.

Fontoura, a career law enforcement officer, was first elected as Sheriff in 1990. Since then, he has led the largest and most active Sheriff’s Department in New Jersey, serving the County and the state’s largest Superior Court vicinage. As Sheriff, he directs the county-wide Bureau of Narcotics, the multi-disciplined K9 and bomb squad, and serves as Essex County’s Office of Emergency Management Coordinator.  Fontoura has been a driving force in Essex County’s Covid-19 Response, overseeing development and security of Covid testing facilities, designing a state-of-the-art contact tracing unit, and building a specialized vaccine rollout task-force.

“Sheriff Fontoura is totally dedicated to serving the people of Essex County. I have been at social events with the sheriff when he has gotten a call and has to run off immediately to attend to an emergency,” said Codey. “The safety and security of our county is his first priority. I’ll also tell you, if you ever play golf with him, never take your eyes off him, and make sure you are standing behind him when he hits.”

“Throughout my time working in public service, there have been few people I encountered that are as dedicated to our community as Governor Codey. Whether he is fighting for equality through his work in Trenton, helping his neighbors through community service, or preaching the benefits of strong mental health, Governor Codey is a strong leader and consummate professional,” said Sheriff Fontoura. “His passion and dedication to fight for Essex County and the State of New Jersey serves as a constant reminder of what we should all strive for as public servants, and I’m thrilled to receive the endorsement from the former Governor.”