Michael Kasparian, the new Bergen County Democratic Chairman, today tapped former state senate candidate Joe Ariyan as the party's general counsel.

Ariyan is the fourth BCDO counsel in the last five months.  He replaces Joseph Marinello, who took over two weeks ago after Paul Kaufman was abruptly fired when indicted former chairman Joe Ferriero temporarily returned from his leave of absence before resigning.  Insiders with knowledge of the situation attributed the firing to a legal opinion Kaufman wrote paving the way for party members to vote on ousting Ferriero.

Kaufman had taken over the position from Dennis Oury, who resigned before being indicted with Ferriero on eight corruption counts.   

“I am proud that my one my first official actions as Chairman is to appoint Joe Ariyan as Legal Counsel. Joe will undoubtedly do an excellent job as Counsel to the BCDO,” said Kasparian in a statement. “In addition to being a great attorney, Joe is a loyal Democrat who has worked hard over the last several years on behalf of our party.”

Ariyan, a partner at the firm Ariyan, Khoury & Schildiner, LLP, is a commissioner on the Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority, and formerly served as a public defender in Hillsdale and the county’s first Public Advocate for Land Use.  

In 2007, Ariyan ran a well-funded campaign against state Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Demarest) but lost by about 10 points.