Michael Kasparian

Teaneck Councilman Adam Gussen, a critic of the Democratic splinter group headed up by state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck), plans to seek an Assembly seat against Weinberg's allies in the District 37 Democrats' convention next month.

"I believe by and large the problems in New Jersey today are the result of the collective product of our legislators, and we cannot fix the problems with the people and the thinking that caused the problems," said Gussen in a phone interview with PolitickerNJ.com.

Gussen said that he has filed to take on incumbents Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Fair Lawn) and Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood).

The convention, where county committee members from the eleven towns that comprise the legislative district will choose who will get the party line in the June primary, is planned for Wednesday, March 11th.

Gussen said that he will not run in the primary if he does not win, and that he's signed an affidavit to that effect.  Johnson and Huttle both said they refused to sign the affidavit when it was presented to them, since at the time they were not convinced the convention would be fair.

Gussen called Johnson a hypocrite for using "rhetoric about reform, transparency and open government, and yet you have someone representing the district who is a triple dipper, a dual office-holder and has financially supported Lyndon LaRouche."

Possible candidates for Mayor of Englewood include, left to right, Councilman Scott Reddin, Councilwoman Charlotte Bennett-Schoen, and Bergen County Freeholder Vernon Walton.

Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes decision not to seek a third term will become an early test for newly-elected Bergen County Democratic Chairman Michael Kasparian.  Kasparian must decide if he will award the organization line this spring to a candidate backed by the traditionally anti-organization Englewood Democratic Party, support a candidate recommended by Wildes, or seek a compromise candidate that both factions can agree upon.

According to The Record, Council President Charlotte Bennett Schoen and Councilman Scott Reddin are mulling mayoral bids.  Englewood Democratic Municipal Chair Deirdre Glenn Paul, a professor at Montclair State University, is also a potential candidate.  And some Democrats say that Rev. Vernon Walton, a Bergen County Freeholder and former Englewood Councilman, could also emerge as a mayoral candidate.

State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) with former Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero in 2007. Weinberg says she's willing to give Ferriero's successor, Michael Kasparian, a chance to succeed.

State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) said that she’s taking a wait and see approach on whether newly elected Bergen County Democratic Chairman Michael Kasparian’s selection of Joe Ariyan as the party’s general counsel – his first and so far only appointment – sets a unifying tone for the party.

“I am waiting to see what’s going to happen with all the other appointments.  I’m waiting to see when he’s going to convene the meetings of elected officials and the executive board.  And I’m waiting to see what kind of bylaws changes Mr. Ariyan is interested in leading us toward.  Then I’ll make judgment,” she said.

Weinberg heads up a reform faction that has traditionally feuded with party leadership under indicted former Chairman Joe Ferriero, who let Kasparian, his preferred successor, inherit his post last month. 

Michael Kasparian, the new Bergen County Democratic Chairman, today tapped former state senate candidate Joe Ariyan as the party's general counsel.

Ariyan is the fourth BCDO counsel in the last five months.  He replaces Joseph Marinello, who took over two weeks ago after Paul Kaufman was abruptly fired when indicted former chairman Joe Ferriero temporarily returned from his leave of absence before resigning.  Insiders with knowledge of the situation attributed the firing to a legal opinion Kaufman wrote paving the way for party members to vote on ousting Ferriero.

Kaufman had taken over the position from Dennis Oury, who resigned before being indicted with Ferriero on eight corruption counts.   

“I am proud that my one my first official actions as Chairman is to appoint Joe Ariyan as Legal Counsel. Joe will undoubtedly do an excellent job as Counsel to the BCDO,” said Kasparian in a statement. “In addition to being a great attorney, Joe is a loyal Democrat who has worked hard over the last several years on behalf of our party.”

Newly-elected Bergen County Democratic Chairman Michael Kasparian says he won't support a primary challenge agianst two Democratic legislators who did not back his campaign to succeed Joseph Ferriero.

New Bergen County Democratic Organization (BCDO) Chairman Michael Kasparian wants to avoid a primary blowup in a gubernatorial election year, and to that end today made it clear he has only olive branch intentions when it comes to Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Englewood) and Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood).

There will be no organizational primary challenge to the two 37th District incumbents this year, he said, depite Huttle and Johnson’s initial intransigence regarding Kasparian’s candidacy and his perceived closeness to jettisoned BCDO Chairman Joseph Ferriero.

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch) has raised $100,000 for Gov. Jon Corzine's re-election campaign.

Seeking an opportunity to run for statewide office, U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-Fair Lawn) secured the public endorsement of the newly-elected Bergen County Democratic Chairman Michael Kasparian last night, but U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch) may have one-upped him.  Tonight, Pallone is hosting a fundraiser for Governor Jon Corzine's re-election campaign.   The event is at the home of former state Commerce Secretary Virginia Bauer, and sources say that Pallone personally raised over $100,000 for Corzine. 

U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-Fair Lawn)

HACKENSACK - New Bergen County Democratic Organization (BCDO) Chairman Michael Kasparian said he would support U.S. Steve Rothman (D-Fair Lawn) should Rothman at some time in the future see an opportunity to pursue a run for a vacant U.S. Senate seat. 

"If he ever ran for Senate, he would have my support," Kasparian told PolitickerNJ.com. "I am all about Bergen."

The remark came to a question within the context of some statewide intra-party wrangling that goes back to last year's U.S. Senate primary.

When then-BCDO Chairman Joe Ferriero appeared poised to endorse U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights), Rothman moved quickly.

Rather than conspiring with South Jersey to topple U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-Cliffside Park), Rothman believed the Bergen County party chairman should refrain from endorsing until a vacancy occured. 

BCDO Chairman Michael Kasparian

HACKENSACK - Paramus-based developer Michael Kasparian of Hohokus became the new chairman of the Bergen County Democratic Organization (BCDO) tonight with well over 500 county committee votes cast in his favor at a special convention held in the Hackensack Middle School.

In a process supervised by BCDO attorney Joseph Mariniello, Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney nominated Kasparian, and Kasparian ran unopposed.  

Bergen County Democrats are voting now on a successor to County Chairman Joseph Ferriero.  Expect Michael Kasparian to win in a landslide, since Richard “Buzz” Dressel appears to have dropped out again.  Rival faction Democrats seems to be staying away from the special convention.

HACKENSACK - Although the Englewood Democratic Municipal Committee last night passed a resolution opposing the candidacy of Paramus-based developer Michael Kasparian for chairman of the Bergen County Democratic Organization (BCDO), it remains unlikely Kasparian’s opponents will be able to unseat him at a special party convention at 4:30 p.m.

Indeed, it’s a question mark at this point whether they’ll even try.

“I’m not going to put my name in, I’m not running,” said local labor leader Richard “Buzzy” Dressel, who had originally hoped to be the anti-Kasparian candidate in the name of striking a blow against  Kasparian ally and outgoing BCDO Chairman Joe Ferriero.

Ferriero’s leaving to fight federal corruption charges, and Dressel’s convinced he’s rigged the game at this afternoon’s convention, so why participate.