PICTURED: Rev. Vernon Walton (left) and former U.S. Congressman Harold Ford

Sources hoping for the appointment themselves are telling Inside Bergen they have lost out to Englewood Rev. Vernon Walton for Connie Wagner’s unexpired term on the Bergen County Board of Freeholders.  If true, Walton will be the first African American to serve on the Board of Freeholders and yet another example of what Democrats will likely underscore as the most diverse representation ever in county government, including more female officials, Hispanics and now an African American.

Walton is a former Englewood Councilman-at-Large and is currently the Senior Pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church of there. In addition to his pastoral duties, Reverend Walton acts as Second Vice-President of the NAACP of Bergen County.

Insiders say this is the first step in a political comeback for Walton, who was replaced on the Council by Assemblyman Gordon Johnson in a move in which the African American leadership expressed dismay that Johnson would seek to reduce the number of African American elected officials in Bergen by taking Walton's place on the Council in 2006. In 2007, while campaigning for re-election to the Assembly with Valerie Huttle and Senator Loretta Weinberg, Johnson said he did this in spite of his opposition to dual office holding at the time. The press did not buy it, and The Record cited it as one of several reasons that they would not endorse Johnson.

Also in 2006, Johnson went on to run a racially divisive campaign for an independent candidate he supported for mayor against the Democratic nominee.  Johnson was roundly criticized by prominent religious leaders for his tactics, including a leading a Rabbi, the head of the Black Clergy Council and others. Johnson’s candidate lost badly. The next year, in 2007, it was discovered that Johnson donated frequently to the PAC of known racist and fringe candidate Lyndon LaRouche.  Again, Johnson was roundly criticized and this time paid a price, running behind at the polls.

Johnson’s politicial meltdown makes it likely Walton will become the leading rational voice in politics and government for the African American community of Bergen County.