Spicuzzo, who surrendered this morning to authorities, is accused of selling jobs and promotions while he served as county sheriff, a position he held for 30 years Watch video
Joseph Spicuzzo, chairman of the Middlesex County Democratic Organization, turned himself in to authorities Monday morning to face corruption charges. HAMILTON — Joseph Spicuzzo resigned as chairman of the Middlesex County Democratic Organization today, hours after turning himself in to face charges of bribery and official misconduct.
He is accused of selling jobs and promotions while he served as county sheriff, a position he held for 30 years.
Helen Gottlieb, who has served as vice chair since 1994, will head the county organization until its next reorganization meeting.
“I am assuming the role of chairperson under the most unfortunate circumstances,” she said in a statement. “I will be working closely with party leaders and the Middlesex County Democratic Organization’s staff to ensure a smooth transition through the Democratic conventions and the June primary.”
Spicuzzo is also a commissioner at the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. He had not resigned that position, held since December 2009, as of noon today.
Some ranking Democrats from the state and the county have called on Spicuzzo to step down from all his public positions.
State law enforcement officials unveiled the charges against Spicuzzo at a press conference this morning. They said at least three people paid him bribes, which ran as high as $25,000, in 2007 and 2008.
Spicuzzo, 65, of Helmetta could be sent to prison for at least 10 years. He was released on his own recognizance and is due in Superior Court in Middlesex County on March 14.
Despite Spicuzzo's reputation for mixing politics and his duties as sheriff, some in Middlesex County politics said they were surprised by the news.
"I never heard anything (about Spicuzzo) over the years," Edison Democratic Committee Chairman Thomas Paterniti said. "He always did a good job. We kind of accepted the fact that he was going to run for another term as chairman."
Longtime Monroe Mayor Richard Pucci, who had filled in as the county's Democratic Party leader several years ago when Spicuzzo was hospitalized for surgery, said he was "stunned."
Spicuzzo is well entrenched in Middlesex County politics, where his political career spans decades.
He started as mayor of Spotswood from 1976 to 1980, then served as county sheriff for a record-setting 10 terms. He decided not to seek re-election last year, citing health concerns.
By Chris Megerian and Tom Haydon/The Star-Ledger
