In 1994, Treffinger defeated a divided Democratic party to become the second Republican County Executive of Essex County in 17 years.Politics of Essex County, New Jersey: Essex County Executive His predecessor, Thomas J. D'Alessio had resigned after being convicted of money laundering, fraud and extortion. After taking office, Treffinger reported that the county had been left with a $161 million budget gap and was later credited with nearly closing that gap in the following year. Treffinger won re-election in 1998, defeating former Newark mayor Kenneth A. Gibson by a margin of 50 percent to 47 percent.
