Insiders couldn't stop talking this week about Steve Fulop's announcement of his choice for Lieutenant Governor next week.

Supposedly, the unveiling will go down in Montclair, which immediately opened up the possibility of

former state Senator Nia Gill (above, center), who lives in Montclair.

Gill, you'll recall, lost her LD-34 Senate seat in a 2023 Democratic Primary against Dick Codey.

Codey backs Mikie Sherrill (of Montclair) for governor, of course, along with the same Essex County Democratic Party organization that gave Gill the heave-ho.

So, she's at the top of insider lists as a Fulop option.

She would bring some high-octane energy and political proficiency into the race - and a rather potent, vengeance-laden edge.

Then there's former Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-37), above left, outdueled that same year by the Bergen County Democratic Committee-backed Gordon Johnson.

Viewed as a less diabolical choice for the job than Gill - given the shrewd incisions that the former senator would cause in Sherrill's home county - Vainieri Huttle nonetheless would join Fulop's ticket with a kind of sleeves-rolled-up anti-establishment zest.

Then there's former Assemblywoman Sadaf Jaffer, above right, who served a term in the legislature before opting out, apparently horrified by business as usual down there in Trenton, which happens to dovetail nicely with Fulop's throw-the-bums-out campaign message.

Insiders were kicking around some other names, too, among them South Orange President Sheena Collum, Montclair Mayor Renee Baskerville, and Assemblywoman Garnet Hall (in part on the strength of their Essex residencies). Sources shot down two other audacious possible picks: Former Mayor Sean Spiller (he wouldn't back out of the gubernatorial contest to back Fulop, or back out period, a source insisted), and Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, who lost the line last month for a vacant senate seat to slate mate Benjie Wimberly (source: "She wouldn't do that to [Passaic Democratic Chairman John] Currie").

Currie backs Sherrill for governor.

Bottom line:

Former Senator Gill - known as one of the best - and toughest - committee inquisitors during her tenures in Trenton - created the most sparks of intrigue in the lead-up to Fulop's announcement next week. Sources cited the sulfurous nature of her longstanding rivalry with Essex County Democratic Chairman Jones, and - more recently - Codey, who beat her, only to announce his retirement, not to mention her veteran chops, and haunting presence right in Sherrill's hometown, of all places.

Here's the question:

Super Survey