Kay Nest

Bergen County Democratic Vice Chair Kay Nest, who’s filling in while indicted Chairman Joe Ferriero takes a leave of absence, said tonight that the party will not make any decision on its permanent leadership until after the November 4th election. 

That decision was the product of a  discordant meeting of the Bergen County Executive Committee members that took place this morning. 

“The Executive Committee of the Bergen County Democratic Organization met today regarding the future of the party.  Though there were clearly differing opinions on a variety of topics, all in attendance agreed to move forward as one united party.  A unanimous vote was taken, and all in attendance agreed to postpone any discussion regarding the change in leadership and focus on electing Democrats in the upcoming November election.  I am humbled by the confidence the Executive Committee has shown in me, and I will not let them down,” said Nest in a prepared statement. “I have no doubt, that a united Democratic Party will be successful in November, from the bottom to the top of the ticket.”

After a raucous meeting that insiders present said seemed more like a family gathering after a tragedy than a typical political meeting, the Bergen County Democratic Organization’s Executive Committee agreed not to ask Chairman Joe Ferriero to resign – at least not until after the November election.

Tensions and emotions were high as Ferriero loyalists and critics argued it out over the fate of their Chairman, who’s been indicted on eight corruption counts. Old scabs were reopened and expletives flew unhindered among the roughly 30 members present.

Ferriero is currently on a temporary leave of absence while Vice Chair Kay Nest has been elevated to become Acting Chairwoman for the time being.

Dennis Oury stepped down yesterday as general counsel of the Bergen County Democratic Organization, according to party spokesman Bill Maer. 

Oury who was indicted Tuesday on an eight-count corruption charge along with BCDO Chairman Joe Ferriero. 

Party Vice Chair Kay Nest has appointed Paul Kaufman, a former mayor of Leonia, to take over the position.  Kaufman’s name was initially floated as a potential replacement for Ferriero, who has not resigned.

In October, 2007, Dennis Oury gave the Bergen County Democratic Organization a $25,000 interest-free loan. 

At the time, Oury was the BCDO’s general counsel.  Yesterday, he stepped down after Tuesday’s indictment charging him and Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joe Ferriero with eight corruption counts. But the loan remains on the books.

Kay Nest, the party’s vice-chair who’s acting as chairwoman while Ferriero takes a leave of absence, said that she didn’t know about the loan, but it’s something that the party will be sure to address in the coming weeks, when top officials will pour over its finances.

When asked whether the BCDO should return the loan, Nest said “you just gave me a good idea. I didn’t even know about that.  I’ll definitely look into it.” 

Democratic sources say that Joseph Ferriero, now under indictment for fraud, will resign his post as Bergen County Democratic Chairman.  He'll say that he's leaving his party post to devote all his energies to his criminal defense.  The Vice Chairwoman, Kay Nest, who took over leadership of the county Democratic organization four days ago when Ferriero announced is leave of absence, will become Acting Chair until Democrats can hold a special election to pick a new Chairman.

Joseph Ferriero will take a leave of absence from his post as Bergen County Democratic Chairman following allegations that he assaulted a woman during a Labor Day barbecue at his Old Tappan home. This is the latest in a series of legal woes for the powerful party leader; last month, FBI agents seized personal records from his law office as part of a federal probe of a grants business he owns with lawyer Dennis Oury. 

In Fort Lee, Jack Alter will be remembered as a devoted mayor to this two and a half square mile town just across the George Washington Bridge from Manhattan. During his term, he convinced Leona Helmsley to sell a tract of land for Centuria, what officials have said is the biggest development project in the town’s history. He ushered in new police station, a community center, park restoration, and stood up to the Port Authority about the impact the bridge was having on his little town.

But as local officials and politicians reflected on Alter’s term as mayor after his unexpected death this morning, not far from everyone’s minds was that inevitable question: who will take his place?