Ferriero, Zisa and the BCDO

by: Senator Loretta Weinberg

Mon May 03, 2010 at 09:00:00 AM EDT

When we served together in the legislature, I thought Ken Zisa was a good Assemblyman.  He was always well prepared on a session day, articulate, and progressive on all the issues in which most of us believe.  Then at Joe Ferriero's request he gave up his Assembly seat to run for Sheriff, an election he lost.  But out of that election, he and Ferriero became allies. He had talked Ken out of an Assembly seat and into a losing election. Zisa's future would from then on rely on Ferriero's largesse.  

"Chairman" Ferriero (as he liked to be called), created a well financed machine, and all largesse flowed directly from him. But in doing so, he also nurtured the idea that winning is the only measure of success and "anything goes" to get there. It was alright to try to manipulate any situation to one's personal advantage. That was Joe Ferriero's "gift" to the minions who were prepared to follow his lead

In 2005 Senator Byron Baer resigned from the New Jersey State Senate due to illness. Ferriero picked Police Chief Zisa to be the State Senator from District 37.  Joe "owed him one" because of the losing election and certainly "The Chairman" wanted a loyal soldier in the Senate! Hence the convention which pitted me against Ken Zisa.  A convention so important to "The Chairman" that some folks thought it OK to forge signatures of duly elected committee members, (to mention just a few of the many irregularities). You all know the history: the court fight, the famous "Tenafly Five", and later the creation of the Real Bergen Democrats as an antidote to "Chairman" Joe's leadership.

What makes me angry about Joe Ferriero's leadership is that "gift" he left.  It is why I'm so glad that he's gone from his seat of power. But in the end, it wasn't the Real Bergen Dems who rid our organization of "Chairman Joe".  It was Mr. Ferriero himself.  Arrogant and "anything goes"! Ken Zisa is a product of Chairman Joe's environment. This time, it appears again Mr. Zisa will be the cause of his own undoing. He's out as Police Chief, but has yet to resign as a Commissioner on The Board of Elections, a position he received with Mr. Ferriero's blessing. You know, one of those patronage jobs that actually brings an important responsibility like making sure that our elections are fair. That resignation must come immediately.  

Others are working to rebuild our organization. That "rebuilding process" should result in a real democratic organization. The overwhelming number of municipal organizations in the Bergen Democratic Orgaznization are made up of good and honest hardworking folks who believe in democratic ideals. People who helped elect Barack Obama to the presidency; people who helped pass their school budgets in Bergen; people who helped get the votes for Jon Corzine and me in the last election!  It is these folks we must rely on to participate at every level and to make their voices heard. Let's hope they do so loudly and clearly.

Another busy week upon us.  Today and tomorrow is the Governor's Conference on Women in Atlantic City.  Author Anna Quindlan will be the key note speaker.