Joan Voss

Bergen County Democrats knew this day would come sooner or later, and today they responded to the indictment of former state Sen. Joe Coniglio not with an outright defense, but with pleas withhold judgment.

Republicans, on the other hand, pointed to the indictment as another sign of what they see as endemic corruption in the Democratic Party.

“Senator Coniglio accomplished a great deal for the working families of the 38th District during his career,” said Bergen County Democratic Organization Chairman Joe Ferriero. “Our legal system is founded upon the presumption of innocence and it is my sincere hope that Joe's upcoming trial is an opportunity for him to reclaim the good reputation that he built through his years of public service.”

State Sen. Bob Gordon spent two terms in the Assembly beneath Coniglio, ascending to the Senate after Coniglio decided not to run again after being pressured by Democratic Party leaders. During the investigation, Gordon saw his own office’s records subpoenaed, although he was not a target of the investigation.

It was a big happy event, by the looks of it from the outside. They looked like an extended family in there, with the Jets game on in the background and a few of the men shamelessly turning sideways in their chairs as they watched Gang Green lose.

But when Assemblyman Robert Gordon stood at the podium and accepted their unanimous backing to succeed District 38 Sen. Joseph Coniglio, Bergen County Democrats emptied their seats and gave him their face-forward attention amid sustained applause.

Gordon had some longtime allies in the Sunday evening crowd at party HQ in Hackensack, guys with whom he went back a long time.

Assemblyman Robert Gordon will face Republican Robert Colletti in the 38th district State Senate raceBergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero has endorsed Assemblyman Bob Gordon to fill the state Senate ballot position left vacant by Joe Coniglio.

“Obviously it was a difficult choice because we had outstanding candidates, and any one of them would make an excellent Senator,” said Ferriero. “But based on Bob’s experience, dedication and commitment to the people of New Jersey, I picked him.”

Gordon was under consideration along with Assembly running mate Joan Voss and Paramus Mayor James Tedesco.

While political insiders around Bergen County watch the Democratic headquarters in Hackensack for white smoke, at least one person who’s being put up for Joe Coniglio’s place on the ballot doesn’t know it yet. 

It’s Fort Lee Councilman Michael Villano, whose name Fair Lawn Committeeman Bob Gulack wants to put forward at the organization’s Sunday night meeting.

It might not be a coincidence that the last three state Senators from district 38 have been from Paramus.

There was Paul Contillo, then Louis Kosco, and finally Joseph Coniglio.

Now, two of the four contenders for the position are from Paramus – Mayor James Tedesco and Bergen County Freeholder Connie Wagner (who, unlike the other three, has not yet declared an intention to run for the seat).

State Sen. Loretta Weinberg today praised the integrity of two potential Senate candidates in the neighboring 38th district, and said that Democratic Party leaders should let the elected county committee members should make the decision.

"Senator Joseph Coniglio made a very tough decision. The legal system will now run its course, and I wish him well," said Weinberg. "I also certainly hope that none of our own democratic party leaders, nor any Republican will insinuate that my colleagues, Assembly members Bob Gordon or Joan Voss, are somehow implicated in this investigation because they received subpoenas. I know them both to be hardworking legislators of great integrity."

The Bergen County Democratic Organization has announced the meeting at which they’ll pick the replacement for State Senator Joe Coniglio. 

The meeting will be held on Sunday at 6 pm at BCDO headquarters in Hackensack.  It will be closed to everyone except staff, municipal chairs, candidates and county committee members. 

State Sen. Joe Coniglio has agreed to drop his re-election bid, sources sayState Sen. Joseph Coniglio, who is the target of a federal corruption investigation, has agreed to drop his bid for re-election in the 38th district. Coniglio had resisted internal pressure from Bergen Democratic leaders to drop out of the race, but has now told Democratic officials that he would end his bid for a third term.

But Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero is strongly denying that Coniglio is dropping out, saying the report is "absolutely not true."

State Sen. Joseph Coniglio is the target of a federal corruption investigationThe two Republican Assembly candidates in the 38th district say that Assemblymen Robert Gordon and Assemblywoman Joan Voss should "admonish the actions" of their running mate, State Sen. Joseph Coniglio. Coniglio, the target of a federal corruption investigation, is running a joint campaign with Gordon and Voss.

State Sen. Joseph Coniglio offered his first detailed response to allegations that he used his legislative post to help his employer, the Hackensack University Medical Center.  Coniglio is a target of a federal probe, which sometimes is a precursor to an indictment.

Today, his campaign manager, Brian Hague, issued a lengthy statement responding to a decision of the bi-partisan Joint Committee on Ethical Standards to reopen a previously-dismissed ethics complaint filed against Coniglio.