When he was running for Bergen County Democratic Chairman after Joseph Ferriero resigned, Michael Kasparian pledged a series of reforms which would "first and foremost include the implementation of an ethics training program for all candidates who desire the support of our party.  This commitment will be similar to the state mandated program that all commissioners and authority members, myself included, must complete annually."

Now Kasparian has changed his mind.  He's still offering the ethics training, which includes a written test, but he's making it optional.  There will be no penalty for party leaders who decline to complete the training, take the test, or fail the test. 

The lawyer for the BCDO says they can't compel County Committee members to take ethics training.  But they really can: Kasparian can agree to deny the organization line to any candidate who does not pass the ethics training.

And how about this: in the interest of total transparency, as per Kasparian's pledge, perhaps he should agree to post the results of the ethics test for each individual party leader?