Jerry Walker of Jersey City, a former star player for Seton Hall University, will have the backing of the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) in his bid to replace Gerry Balmir as the new freeholder, InsiderNJ has learned.

A 1993 graduate of Seton Hall, a Pirate power forward who was the 22nd player in the school’s history to score more than 1,000 points in his collegiate career, Walker founded Team Walker Learning Center in 2014.

He ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Jersey City in 2013, coming in third behind then-incumbent Jerry Healy and winner Steven Fulop.

The mayor of Jersey City is primarily responsible for selecting the candidate for the freeholder seat in question. In this case, the choice of Walker reflects input from state Senator Sandy Cunningham (D-31), often mentioned as a mayoral candidate, who is a close Walker ally.

Last week, InsiderNJ reported that Cunningham – rumored last year to be a possible 2017 mayoral candidate – would receive the HCDO line this year in her bid for reelection to the state senate.

As previously reported on this site, Freeholder Junior Maldonado will run for clerk, in an effort to succeed retiring Clerk Barbara Netchert.

For more on Jerry Walker, please go here.