Joseph Ferriero

Democrats from both factions in Bergen County suggest that developer Michael Kasparian has the votes to win election as County Chairman when the Bergen County Democratic Organization meets tomorrow night to pick a replacement for Joseph Ferriero.  Kasparian, reportedly Ferriero’s choice, faces labor leader Richard “Buzz” Dressel.  Dressel had dropped out of the race, but quickly returned. 

In an op-ed on BlueJersey.com, Ridgewood Councilman Paul Aronsohn is complaining about aspects of the Bergen County Democratic Organization convention on Thursday to elect a successor for County Chairman Joseph Ferriero.   Aronsohn, the 2006 Democratic candidate for Congress in the fifth district, says that the  “convention was hastily scheduled ... not by the Executive Committee, but by the outgoing Chairman, who was directed to resign by January 15 by the Executive Committee due to his indictment on corruption charges.”

Former Superior Court Judge Paul Huot will preside over the election of a new Bergen County Democratic Chairman next week, according to a statement released by outgoing Chairman Joseph Ferriero today. 

“So as to properly preserve the integrity of this process, I am announcing the appointment of retired Superior Court Judge Paul R. Huot to conduct and to preside over this election,” said Ferriero.  “No one can question his experience and ability to assure the integrity of the election. “

Ferriero also named Joseph Mariniello as BCDO counsel.  He fired Paul Kaufman yesterday; Kaufman had replaced Dennis Oury, who was named in the same indictment as Ferriero last fall.

There is speculation among some Bergen County Democrats with ties to the current leadership and to Michael Kasparian, the most likely candidate to succeed Joseph Ferriero as Bergen County Democratic Chairman, that the BCDO will seek to avoid a State Assembly primary in District 37.  There has been talk that the BDCO would look to oust four-term Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood), as there was two years ago when Ferriero endorsed a slate of candidates against Johnson, State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck), and Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle (D-Englewood).  Now the conventional wisdom is that Kasparian will look to heal some wounds – not expand them – and more importantly, seek to conserve campaign dollars by not spending heavily in a primary. 

State Sen. Paul Sarlo probably won't run for Bergen County Democratic Chairman.

There is considerable speculation that State Sen. Paul Sarlo, the new Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has ruled out a bid to succeed Joseph Ferriero as the Bergen County Democratic Chairman.  Some top level Democrats, reportedly including U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman, had been urging him to run.  Sarlo, sources say, had been considering an entrance into the race, which now includes labor leader Buzz Dressel and developer/fundraiser Michael Kasparian.

Michael Kasparian, a Democratic fundraiser and ally of outgoing Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero, formally entered the race to succeed Ferriero this weekend, saying that he demonstrated his independence from party leaders by becoming an early support of Barack Obama's presidential campaign. 

The Ho-Ho-Kus real estate developer and former Assembly candidate says he will unveil his platform for reform over the next two weeks.  Kasparian is expected to face labor leader Buzz Dressel in a January 22 special election.  Ferriero announced on Friday that he was stepping down after ten years at the helm of the Bergen County Democratic Organization.

The complete text of Kaspaian's announcement follows:

Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero has been on a leave of absence since September.

Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero, under indictment on federal corruption charges, will resign on January 22, and has called a special election to pick a successor.  Ferriero says he is ending his leave of absence effective immediately so that he can help raise money for the party’s January 17 fundraising event.

Ferriero was indicted on September 9 on eight corruption counts of influence peddling with a grants consulting firm he held a financial stake in. A trial is set for September 2009.  He went on a leave of absence just before the indictment was announced.

“Unfortunately, I have recently been required to defend myself against an indictment which has no basis in law or fact.  I have been forced to dedicate my time and energy to clearing my name,” Ferriero wrote in a letter to Democratic leaders.  “I believe that it would adversely affect our party, and our candidates if I were to continue to serve as chairman while on trial several weeks before the November election.  It is for this reason that I am calling a special county committee meeting for January 22, 2009 to elect a successor.  I hereby resign effective on that date.”

Ferriero says that while he had “strenuous disagreements with a few members of the party including (State Sen.) Loretta Weinberg and (U.S. Rep.) Steve Rothman,” he said “we are all Democrats that want what is in the best interest of the party.”

“I am calling on everyone to come together so that we can continue the progress our party has made over the last decade,” he said.

Likely candidates to succeed him are Michael Kasparian, a developer and Democratic fundraiser, and Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union business manager Richard “Buzz” Dressel, a Commissioner of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.

Ferriero, 51, was first elected County Chairman in June 1998.  Five months later, Bergen Democrats broke the GOP’s 7-0 majority on the Board of Freeholders by electing Democrats Dennis McNerney and Douglas Bern, and won the race for Sheriff.  Under Ferriero’s leadership, Bergen County now has two Democratic State Senators, McNerney is in his second term as County Executive, and they hold all seven Freeholder seats.  Ferriero has helped Democrats achieve majorities in 25 municipalities.

For now, Ferriero’s resignation ends a 31-year political career that began with his election to the Dumont Borough Council in 1977 at age twenty.

The full text of Ferriero’s letter:

Union leader Buzz Dressel is expected to run for Bergen County Democratic Chairman if Joe Ferriero is ousted.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 164 endorsed Republican Henry McNamara for Bergen County Executive in 2002 at the request of Democratic powerhouse John Lynch, according to Richard "Buzz" Dressel, the business manager for the local.  Lynch, a former Senate President, is now serving a 39 month sentence after pleading guilty to federal corruption charges.

If there is contest to replace indicted Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero, Dressel is expected to face off against Michael Kasparian, a real estate developer and Democratic fundraiser with ties to Ferriero.  Dressel says the IBEW's endorsements of McNamara and GOP County Clerk Kathleen Donovan won't hamper his ability to replace Ferriero.  He says the union was backing McNamara because he was stronger in his opposition to the Xanadu project than the eventual winner, Democrat Dennis McNerney.  And he says even Ferriero tried to get Donovan to seek re-election last year as a Democrat.

State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge), who met with Kasparian today, says Dressel shouldn't be penalized for a couple of union endorsements.

"That was his union, it wasn't specifically Buzzy," said Sarlo.   "Look, if the county committee picks him he would have to guarantee that all endorsements out of that union hall are Democratic."

At 3,500 members, Dressel's local is the largest electrical construction workers union in the state.

"That's the largest union in Bergen County, and the fact that he's the president could turn into a big positive for him," said Sarlo.

Dressel's union, whose campaign contributions included one to GOP gubernatorial candidate Bret Schundler in 2001, will endorse only Democrats from now on.  "Without a doubt," he told PolitickerNJ.com.

"We need to bring credibility back to the Bergen County Democratic Party," added Dressel, a Commissioner of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. "This is not the Democratic Party my grandfather was a part of. We're supposed to be connecting people to the process, and that's what I want to do. I want to bring the party back together. I'd actually be calling for meetings and a transparent process. Meanwhile, there's somebody running against me who is unequivocally Joe Ferriero's clone."

On his way in to meet with Paramus developer and Democratic Party fundraiser Kasparian today, State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) dismissed the rumor of a conflict and said Dressell shouldn't be penalized for backing a Republican or two.

Richard Benfield, a member of the New York Times editorial board and the editor of the New Jersey section, is retiring after a long career in journalism.  Hs spent nineteen years as editorial page editor for The Record, and headed The Record’s Trenton and Washington bureaus.  His op-ed on suburban political bosses – specifically Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero, ran on the New York Times’ national opinion page on January 1 and is a must-read for New Jerseyans.

Take a look at PolitickerNJ.com's first Winners & Losers of the Year, published in December 2000.  CLICK HERE