In a move that clears that way for Peter Murphy to regain the Passaic County GOP chairmanship, Passaic County Republicans approved a change in the party by-laws that previously blocked his comeback.
Murphy, who ran the party in the days when Republicans had complete control of government, gave up his post seventeen years ago after being charged in a kickback scheme. His conviction was eventually overturned by the 3rd Circuit and he later pled guilty to a single count of mail fraud in exchange for not going through a second trial.
A faction of Passaic Republicans pushed through a by-law change to prevent Murphy from regaining power. That was repealed today.
As Totowa Republican Municipal Chairman, Murphy is still a substantial force in Passaic County politics. He now controls the party’s executive committee – which determines which candidate gets the organization line in Passaic – and he has a staunch ally in State Sen. Kristin Corrado (R-Totowa), who has a seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee and senatorial courtesy over all Passaic County gubernatorial nominations.
The current county chairman, John Traier, is widely expected to be replaced in June.
