The Real Deal vs. The Done Deal
March 21, 2007 Filed in: Politics
Tomorrow, committee members throughout Bergen County
will gather in Hackensack for the Bergen County
Democratic Organization (BCDO) convention. The BCDO
convention is a meeting of the county delegates to
select who the BCDO will back in June's Democratic
primary. Yet, at least 50 committee members will not
be appearing at the convention, including nearly half
of Englewood's Democratic Municipal Committee. These
members charge that BCDO chairman Joe
Ferriero has already picked his
organization's candidates and that the
convention is merely a "formality." According to
a letter signed by these
delegates:
Also absent will be our district's three incumbents, Senator Loretta Weinberg and Assemblypersons Valerie Huttle and Gordon Johnson. Last month, Ferriero offered Senator Weinberg the BCDO's backing if she replaced running mates Johnson and Huttle with his own hand-picked candidates. Instead, Weinberg and her colleagues decided to bypass the Ferriero-controlled convention altogether and take their campaign directly to the voters in this June's Democratic primary.
In response, Ferriero has selected Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes to challenge Loretta Weinberg for her senate seat. This is the same Michael Wildes that Ferriero once considered an opponent, saying "Michael Wildes only cares about his own political ambition." The irony of this newly formed alliance was not lost on PoliticsNJ, which reported, "Until a few hours ago, Wildes has been a fervant foe of County Chairman Joseph Ferriero." So why is Wildes now seeking Joe Ferriero's backing? According to David Sivella, Wildes' political consultant:
So what "hefty price" is Wildes willing to pay to Boss Joe Ferriero? The Englewood Report has its own theories. (Hint: it starts with "develop-" and ends in "-ment.")
Yet, with leaked poll numbers showing Weinberg with a giant 3-1 lead over Wildes, this primary battle may just turn out to be an embarrassing attempt by Boss Joe Ferriero to replace popular incumbents with his own slate of cronies.
So while the BCDO convenes in Hackensack to anoint Ferriero's picks for Senate and Assembly, Englewood will host the grand opening of the Weinberg, Johnson and Huttle campaign headquarters. And unlike Ferriero's convention, which is closed to the public, you all are invited to join your legislators at this kickoff.
The invitation, as posted on BlueJersey.com:
It is now clear the Party has been hijacked by a few insiders who have abandoned the principles of the Democratic Party. They have turned what was once one of the most open and respected nominating processes in New Jersey into a power grab.
Also absent will be our district's three incumbents, Senator Loretta Weinberg and Assemblypersons Valerie Huttle and Gordon Johnson. Last month, Ferriero offered Senator Weinberg the BCDO's backing if she replaced running mates Johnson and Huttle with his own hand-picked candidates. Instead, Weinberg and her colleagues decided to bypass the Ferriero-controlled convention altogether and take their campaign directly to the voters in this June's Democratic primary.
In response, Ferriero has selected Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes to challenge Loretta Weinberg for her senate seat. This is the same Michael Wildes that Ferriero once considered an opponent, saying "Michael Wildes only cares about his own political ambition." The irony of this newly formed alliance was not lost on PoliticsNJ, which reported, "Until a few hours ago, Wildes has been a fervant foe of County Chairman Joseph Ferriero." So why is Wildes now seeking Joe Ferriero's backing? According to David Sivella, Wildes' political consultant:
Joe Ferriero controls the money going to Democratic candidates for county offices the way the player with the most real estate in Monopoly has all the cash come to him...the valuable real estate is Column 1 [on the ballot], the party line. He owns it, and when you land on it, if you want to be there, you have to pay a hefty price.
So what "hefty price" is Wildes willing to pay to Boss Joe Ferriero? The Englewood Report has its own theories. (Hint: it starts with "develop-" and ends in "-ment.")
Yet, with leaked poll numbers showing Weinberg with a giant 3-1 lead over Wildes, this primary battle may just turn out to be an embarrassing attempt by Boss Joe Ferriero to replace popular incumbents with his own slate of cronies.
So while the BCDO convenes in Hackensack to anoint Ferriero's picks for Senate and Assembly, Englewood will host the grand opening of the Weinberg, Johnson and Huttle campaign headquarters. And unlike Ferriero's convention, which is closed to the public, you all are invited to join your legislators at this kickoff.
The invitation, as posted on BlueJersey.com:
Weinberg, Johnson & Huttle HQ Grand Opening
posted by: carolh
Summary:
Join the Real Bergen Democrats at their new HQ Grand Opening
Description:
Please join Senator Loretta Weinberg, Assemblyman Gordon Johnson and Assemblywoman Valerie Vaineri Huttle as they kick off their Primary Campaign for re-election.
RSVP by e-mail to rsvp@realbergendemocrats.com or call 201-838-9959 including regrets. Please invite your neighbors and friends.
Where:
40 North Van Brunt St
Englewood
07631
When: 05:00 PM - 08:00 PM
