Ex-mayor, labor leader seeking votes for Ferriero's job

Joseph Ferriero still hasn’t resigned as chairman of the Bergen County Democratic Organization, but after he was indicted on eight counts of corruption yesterday, the race to replace him has begun.

Already, potential candidates acknowledge that they’ll need to tackle two major issues in the upcoming weeks.

One is bridging the divide between the Ferriero loyalists and State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck).

The other is fundraising.  That’s never been a problem for the BCDO under the leadership of Ferriero, who foes feared as a fundraising juggernaut.  But now, without Ferriero at the helm, the party could find it difficult to raise cash fast.  And they’ll need it – as of the last ELEC report, filed on July 15th, the party’s cash on hand is in the red.  While the party’s finances were similar at this point one year ago, they had Ferriero’s money-raising prowess to ramp it up.

Three names are still floated as potential replacements, while other names are likely to be added to the mix later on.  There’s former Leonia Mayor Robert Pacicco, a jewelry store owner and Democratic Municipal Chairman; Richard “Buzz” Dressel, the business manager of IBEW Local 164; and former Bergen County Superior Court Judge Daniel Mecca.

Bergen County Improvement Authority Chairman Ron O’Malley today told PolitickerNJ.com that he’s not interested in running for chairman, and sources say his name was been nixed partly because he was Ferriero’s chosen successor.  Paul Kaufman, another former Leonia mayor, said yesterday that he is not seeking the chairmanship.

Pacicco and Dressel each see themselves as the candidate who can finally bridge the divide between Ferriero’s people – most notably State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) – and the Weinberg crew.

Pacicco said that he’s spoken with over 100 elected officials and county committee members since it became clear that a need for new leadership was on the horizon.  He held off commenting until yesterday’s indictment, and now he’s entering what he calls an “exploratory phase.”

“I am interested and I’m willing to state that publicly,” he said.  “When you talk to people in Bergen County, you’ll find I’m someone who works very well with people in all factions of the Bergen County Democratic Party. There are serious divisions presently, as we all know. There’s been a lot of discontent and clearly disrespect that people are concerned about, because it’s not going to help us as a party when we have people who can’t trust other people.”

Pacicco started his political career in Bergen County early, when he was elected mayor of Leonia at the age of 24.  Back in those pre-Ferriero days, Democrats were the party closed out of county government, something Pacicco can attest to.  He ran unsuccessfully for freeholder twice, in 1985 and 1987.

“This is probably the defining moment in my conversations with many people.  Back in the 80s, we had a lot of fun, but we didn’t win,” he said.  “Now the BCDO is winning, and in ways we’ve never won before, but people don’t get along and are not having fun.  That’s not a good sign for us.”

Pacicco said that that he would make it his top priority as chairman to get the Ferriero and Weinberg camps to work together, noting that he has good relations on both sides.   He won’t disrespect sitting legislators on either side, he said, and if elected will be open to input from all county committee members and elected officials.  He said he’s friendly with all the major players in the party, including U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-Fair Lawn), Weinberg and Sarlo.

“I don’t believe I have an issue with any of these people. I think I would be an ideal compromise choice that all of them would feel comfortable with and feel they could trust and rely and do the right thing.”

Pacicco would not be personally devoted to the fundraising that Ferriero excelled in.  Instead, he would create the position of fundraising chairman.

“I’m not the kind of person who would devote my time to fundraising. I would name a fundraising chairman in order to accomplish that goal,” he said.  “Someone who knows the infrastructure of the party and the fundraising apparatus.”

Dressel, for his part, does not chair and municipal committees and has not title with the party.  But his union and its phone bank are a political force to be reckoned with in Bergen County, hosting at its hall not just New Jersey leaders like Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-Cliffside Park) and Gov Jon Corzine, but national headliners as well, like Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.).

“I’m exploring my options with, talking to some people. I haven’t been shot down, let’s put it that way,” said Dressel.

On background, many insiders consider Dressel too close to the Weinberg camp to be a compromise candidate.  When Ferriero was revving up a primary challenge against Weinberg’s slate last year, Dressel stepped in to her aid.  But after that, he said, he’s expressed reservations about the Senator’s reluctance to drop her grudge.

“Have I been thrilled with Loretta lately?  No. Mainly because she won, drop it already.  And she understands that,” he said.  “On the other side of the coin, I’m very good friends with Paul Sarlo…. I think of all the people who have their names out there, I’m the only one with friends on both sides.”

And Dressel said that he’s had experience mending a fractured organization, having had to mend a major internal dispute in his own union when he became business manager 12 years ago.

“It was split just like the Democratic Party, right down the middle. I created an open house atmosphere.  I sat myself in an office one day a month after work and let any members come in and speak their mind,” he said.   “Today we’ve got a very effective local union.  Probably the best in the country.”

Dressel said that he’s heard that the party is hitting financial troubles, and knows it will be tough to meet the timeline to repay its debts.  His first step as chairman, he said, would be to bring in an auditing firm.

According to the latest ELEC report, the BCDO is $35,401 in the red with cash, although taking into account the debts that it’s owed, it has a net worth of just shy of $200,000.

“Let’s find the baseline here.  Let’s see just where we are,” he said.

Mecca could not be reached for comment.