“Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Passaic County, where we lay our scene, from ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.”

In this case, the two households were Team Speziale and Team Adamo, both alike in dignity as Democrats. But the ancient grudge between Jerry Speziale and Chairman John Currie did break into new mutiny when the former ran off-the-line (although the line itself is gone for the Democratic Party) against Chairman Currie’s endorsed candidates. Currie, who had not only served as Passaic County Democratic Chairman but also State Democratic Chairman before LeRoy Jones, had had a bad break with Speziale in 2010, and there had been no reconciliation.

In the stifling hot Meatcutters Union Hall in Little Falls, the Currie-faithful had gathered, readying themselves for cheers of triumph or groans of defeat. Data coming in from reports around the county lent an optimistic mood for the embattled Democratic Party. Speziale had broad name recognition compared to Adamo, but insiders said Speziale, despite having a hefty warchest, lacked sufficient “ground game” to win over the county as a whole, focusing primarily on the cities of Paterson and Clifton.

When Passaic County Sheriff Richard Berdnik tragically took his own life, an elected successor had to follow. Former Republican Thomas Adamo, a chief on the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department, had screened before Chairman John Currie, among other potential choices, and was given the party’s blessing. Former sheriff and current Public Safety Director for the Paterson Police Department Jerry Speziale did not screen with Currie and used his considerable money and name recognition to run a campaign against Adamo—but, more broadly, also against Currie’s powerful party apparatus.

A nasty slog of a campaign marked the primary, with both sides accusing the other of being MAGAs-in-Democrats’-clothing. Attacks abounded in print and in cyberspace, at times appearing bafflingly sophomoric. But such are the political battlefields of the 21st Century, and on such battlefields are elections won and power structures preserved or shattered.

Speziale has many allies in Passaic County, but when the party membership hit the polls, some 13,402 Democrats turned out for Adamo to the 9,960 who voted for Speziale.

The results spoke for themselves. Currie and Adamo, speaking at a podium, both credited the hard work of the party members for delivering their victory. Name recognition was overcome, the party leaders said, by old fashioned door knocking, and a lot of long days, walking and talking.

The effort paid off. Incumbent commissioners Cassandra “Sandi” Lazzara, John Bartlett, and newcomer Rodney De Vore defeated a Speziale-backed bracket of Sean Duffy, Derya Taskin, and Pedro Liranzo for the Board of Commissioners, previously known as Freeholders. A campaign to displace incumbent Congressman Bill Pascrell by Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah also failed to dislodge Currie’s ally.

A victorious but smoldering Currie, in his early remarks, said that Speziale ought to apologize for “lies” told about Adamo, reminding the audience that the contest was not exclusively political, but personal as well.

Rodney De Vore, surrounded by his family, eschewed the microphone, belting out, “We won strong and we win with honesty!”

Commissioner Bartlett was re-nominated with a comfortable margin. “Don’t bet against a team [John Currie] put together,” he said, adding, “We are ready for that conversation about democracy [in November].”

Commissioner Lazarra thanked the many individuals who worked on the campaign and the voters, saying, “I am truly indebted to you. I look forward to our future.”

Among those present was Paterson Councilman Alex Mendez, a former rival of Mayor Andre Sayegh who had tacitly put his support behind his Public Safety Director. Currie said that the Paterson City Councilmembers “stepped up” inspiring a round of applause and cheers.

The chairman also welcomed Bergen County Democratic Chairman Paul Juliano to come onto the stage and thanked US Senator Cory Booker (not present) who had endorsed Adamo.

Adamo himself said that Currie had presented him with a challenge he was not sure he would be able to meet, but, “The people of Passaic County spoke, and they spoke loudly,” he said. “A lot of people put themselves on the line for me.” He thanked the commissioners for their help, and gave special recognition to De Vore for his support on the campaign trail.

Congressman Pascrell, a long-time veteran of the Paterson, Passaic County, and federal political arena, also thanked the party organization. Pascrell emphasized the power of unity within the party, underscoring the tensions between the Adamo and Speziale aligned factions which must now be reconciled. “There are no small fish here,” the congressman said, “We did the job and stick together. We will have a new sheriff, a new commissioner, and will return Sandi and John. Without you, we don’t win.”