Disgraced former Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino -- who resigned after being caught on tape making racist and homophobic remarks -- has changed his political affiliation back to Republican.

Saudino appeared at a meeting of the Bergen County Republican Organization this week and was greeted with “enthusiastic applause,” according to the New Jersey Globe.

BCRO Chairman Jack Zisa said in a statement obtained Thursday that Saudino’s decision to register as a Republican was “his personal decision and his alone.” Saudino, Zisa said, “has not been promised anything in return for any help he may offer the organization.”

The former sheriff did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Saudino went back to his Republican roots because he has “strong disagreements with Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and his administration over how they approach law enforcement and particularly how they address the issue of illegal aliens and their impact on the community,” Zisa said.

Saudino was first elected Bergen County Sheriff in 2010 as a Republican. He was reelected under the same party in 2013. But in 2014, he appeared at a union rally where he told members to vote for James Tedesco, the opponent of then-Bergen County Clerk and his former Republican running mate Kathleen Donovan.

Saudino and Donovan’s relationship soured over PBA contract negotiations and the merger of the Bergen County Police and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department. Saudino later apologized but in Jan. 2016, ahead of his November bid for a third term, Saudino joined the Democratic party.

He resigned from office in September of 2018 after a tape surfaced of a candid conversation about Murphy’s inauguration where Saudino can be heard saying, under Murphy’s policies, “the blacks” will “do whatever the f--k they want.” He also says Attorney General Gurbir Grewal only got appointed to his position because he wears a turban, and asked if Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver is gay.

Saudino apologized but did not immediately step down despite Murphy, Tedesco, Grewal, the Bergen County Freeholder Board, and others calling on him to resign.

Zisa said this week that he is disturbed by what he heard on the tapes. “I do not condone Mr. Saudino’s remarks and those remarks do not reflect the policies or attitudes of Bergen County Republicans,” he said.

Not everyone in the party was happy with its newest member.

Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac -- whose town was involved in its own racist rant scandal over remarks make by it’s former Police Chief, Michael Cioffi -- was one.

“There is no place in the Bergen County GOP for someone who spews racist hatred as Mr. Saudino clearly did while Bergen County Sheriff," Kranjac said.

The mayor also took the opportunity to make a jab at the Englewood Cliffs Democrats, who he says, “recently protected and financially rewarded disgraced Police Chief Cioffi and other officers in their racist anti-Asian rants and actions.”

"The Englewood Cliffs GOP will never tolerate racism or sweep it under the rug,” he said.

Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AllisonPries. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

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