Paul Kaufman

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.

Freeholder David Ganz is among Bergen County’s elected officials who have called on indicted Democratic Chairman Joe Ferriero to resign by January 15. But he does not feel that the legal opinion issued last night by the party’s counsel, Paul Kaufman, provides a legitimate way to force Ferriero out.

“I’m only practicing law for 30 years, but I think it’s a weak opinion. What he basically says is there’s nothing that authorizes it, but here’s how you do it, and then drops a footnote regarding the Attorney General who reaches the opposite conclusion,” said Ganz. “What he’s doing, in my view, is trying to take a conclusion that a lot of people want – maybe nearly everyone wants – and writing a legal opinion to justify it.”

The gist of Kaufman’s conclusion is that although no clauses in the bylaws of the Bergen County Democratic Organization (BCDO) address the removal of a sitting chairman, the committee could still legally call a vote on his removal.

Ganz felt that the opinion appeared to have been written with a conclusion already in mind.

Joseph Ferriero, indicted on federal corruption charges, is on a leave of absence as the Bergen County Democratic Chairman.

In a memorandum to members of the Bergen County Democratic Organization’s Executive Committee, the party’s general counsel legally opined that a special meeting can be called for committee members to vote on whether to remove indicted Chairman Joe Ferriero.

This issue has been the subject of much debate within the party, as its own by-laws do not provide for removing a sitting chairman before his term is up, even if he has been indicted. Last week, the executive committee voted for a resolution calling on Ferriero to resign by January 15 if he was not exonerated on all eight corruption counts before then, although members were not sure how to enforce the deadline.

Kaufman’s opinion aims to provide for that enforcement.

“The BCDO By-Laws do not restrict the members from replacing its chairman at any time and do not require that cause be demonstrated,” wrote Kaufman, who in September became general counsel to replace Dennis Oury, who was indicted along with Ferriero.

With nothing in the Bergen County Democratic Organization’s bylaws that gives authority to oust a sitting chairman, the party’s general counsel is working on a legal opinion to see if there is a mechanism to oust indicted Chairman Joe Ferriero.

“I’m working on a legal opinion right now, actually as we speak,” said counsel Paul Kaufman, who had no further comment on the matter.

An opinion is expected to be given to the party’s executive committee --  who voted for a resolution calling on Ferriero to resign by January 15 if he is not cleared on all eight corruption counts before then -- within the next several days.

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.

The Record says Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero is the target of a federal probe
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.

Paul Fader says Wally Edge is wrong, and insists he won't run for Bergen County Democratic Chairman
Former Englewood Mayor Paul Fader strongly denies an Inside Edge report that he is interested in becoming Bergen County Democratic Chairman, if Joseph Ferriero steps down. "The entire report is wholly unfounded," said Fader, in a joint statement with U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-Fair Lawn).

"Your recent post in this morning’s edition of PolitickerNJ that Paul T. Fader is running for Bergen County Democratic Chairman is completely false. “ I am not running for Bergen County Democratic Chairman, I have no plans to run for Bergen County Democratic Chairman, nor have I called anyone seeking their support or advise on whether I should run for Bergen County Democratic Chairman,“ said Paul Fader, a law partner of former Gov. Jim Florio and a former Chief Counsel to Gov. James E. McGreevey.

Editor's Note: Paul Fader has indicated that he is not interested in seeking the Bergen County Democratic Chairmanship, and told PolitickerNJ.com that he has not made any phone calls indicating his interest or seeking support.  The Inside Edge gives him the benefit of the doubt and accordingly, retracts our report.

Joe Ferriero's recent legal woes -- allegations that he assaulted a woman at a Labor Day barbecue at his home, and a federal probe of a grants business in which he is a part owner that resulted in the FBI seizing records from his law office -- have resulted in his taking a leave of absence from his post as Bergen County Democratic Chairman.  Sensing a possible vacancy in the powerful post sometime in the near future, Paul Fader, a former Mayor of Englewood who served as Chief Counsel to Governors James E. McGreevey and Richard Codey,has begun making calls to seek support for Ferriero's job.