Among Bergen Democrats, discussion of life after Ferriero

Ten years after Joe Ferriero started the Bergen County Democratic Organization’s march toward county-wide domination, his hold on power is quickly slipping away.

Multiple sources report that Ferriero is facing intense pressure from top Democrats in the party to resign permanently from his post as county chairman.  The Record, citing sources, said that Ferriero received a target letter from the U.S. Attorney’s office over an investigation of a grants writing firm he held a stake in.  There are also allegations of an assault during a Labor Day party at his Old Tappan home.  Insiders acknowledge that Ferriero’s grasp on the chairmanship is tenuous at best, and that his days in the position may be numbered in the single digits.

Ferriero has already taken a temporary leave of absence, with Vice Chair Kay Nest taking over his immediate responsibilities.  Already, at least five potential replacements have either been raised as possibilities or have floated their own names to permanently replace him.

It will be a complicated choice, with three influential factions vying for a say in the decision.  There’s the Ferriero crowd, who have been loyal to the chairman in the past but believe that his time is up (though there remain some steadfast Ferriero supporters who think that, once Christopher Christie is no longer U.S. Attorney, the investigation will blow over).  Then there’s U.S. Rep. Steven Rothman (D-Fair Lawn), who almost fielded a candidate to run against Ferriero when it looked like he would throw his support behind U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews’s U.S. Senate primary challenge against Frank Lautenberg.  And lastly, there’s State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) and the “Real Bergen Democrats,” a bitter Ferriero rival.

As the situation currently stands, Bergen County Improvement Authority (BCIA) Chairman Ron O’Malley is the leading contender to replace Ferriero -- if and when he resigns.

Other names raised include Daniel Mecca, a retired county judge; Robert Pacicco, a former mayor of Leonia who owns a jewelry store;  Paul Kaufman, another former Leonia mayor; and Richard K. "Buzz" Dressel, business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 164 in Paramus.
(The Inside Edge reported on Saturday that Paul Fader, a former Chief Counsel to two Democratic Governors, was angling for the chairmanship.  Fader says he is not interested.)

O’Malley could not be reached for comment, and is said to be holding off on public statements until Ferriero makes a decision.  Sources say he’s expected to resign from the BCIA post if he takes over for Ferriero.

Freeholder David Ganz said that he spoke to O’Malley, but not about the chairmanship.  Still, he acknowledged that the buzz exists and indicated where the establishments Democrats were leaning.

“I spoke to Ron this morning.  He’s a good trooper and good soldier, and he’d be an amazing general,” he said.

O’Malley is said to have a good relationship with Rothman, who could not be reached for comment.  But Weinberg indicated that she’s not likely to support him, especially considering that the BCIA still employs Dennis Oury, the BCDO general counsel who received a target letter as part of the same probe that Ferriero is facing.  She and her allies have been openly critical of the BCIA – especially its handling of oversight of the Bergen Regional Medical Center.

“O’Malley has been the chair of the Bergen County Improvement Authority, which still technically employing Dennis Oury as their attorney.  They haven’t seen fit to deal with that yet,” she said.  “I will be open to somebody who comes into this position who first of all will want to win the election in November, and second of all will be setting a new agenda and new road to the Bergen County Democratic Organization. And beyond that, I’m not willing to say very much.”

Nevertheless, some insiders say that satiating every faction will be an impossible task, but that O’Malley is most suited for it.

“I don’ think Gandhi would be able to totally put the factions together, but I think O’Malley would help mitigate it,” said one insider.  “He’s a decent guy with no agenda.  No county work or anything.  I assume any appointed positions he has he’ll give up.”