*CORRECTION
PolitickerNJ misread Ariyan's statement, and misreported that Ariyan was not interested in the position. Ariyan did not take his name out of the running, but merey refused to speculate about a run until there is a vacancy.
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Attorney Joe Ariyan has taken his name out of the running for Bergen County Democratic Chairman.
Ariyan, who unsuccessfully challenged state Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Demarest) last year as the Bergen County Democratic Organization’s candidate, was mentioned in Charlie Stile’s column this weekend as a possible successor to indicted chairman Joe Ferriero.
“In recent weeks, I have been contacted by several elected officials from Bergen County as well as members of the County Committee encouraging me to pursue the Chairmanship of the Bergen County Democratic Organization,” said Ariyan in a statement. “To each, my response has been the same - which is that there is simply no vacancy for the position. Until and unless a convention is held or Chairman Ferriero resigns his post, any speculation is premature and merely political fodder."
Ferriero was charged with eight corruption counts in September along with BCDO counsel Dennis. Since then, he has kept a low profile and taken a leave of absence from his post. Through the November election, however, was said to still be taking an active, if unofficial, role in county campaigns.
Ariyan said that he will “remain committed to serving the Democratic Party in Bergen County as needed as I have done for several years.”
“Regardless of who serves as Chairman in the coming year, whether it be someone new or if Mr. Ferriero continues his service to the party, I believe it is incumbent upon all members to set aside past differences and come together behind the Chairman with a tenor of inclusiveness, openness and integrity for the good of the party and the citizens of Bergen County,” he said.
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