John Sette liked to say he’s “retired” from politics after leaving the chairmanship of the Morris County Republican Committee a few years ago.

But, as is often said, nothing lasts forever.

Sette is now poised to seek another political post – national Republican Committeeman from New Jersey. And to do that, he would have to beat Bill Palatucci who now has the seat this June.

Both men have ties to Chris Christie.

Palatucci, as has been widely reported over the years, was responsible years ago for bringing Christie, who was then a former freeholder, to the attention of the Bush family. That led to Christie becoming U.S. Attorney and then governor.

Sette has had a politically close relationship with Christie dating back to the former governor’s freeholder days in the mid-1990s. Sette was also county chair when Christie was governor.

Palatucci said in an email that Christie is among his “many, many supporters.”

All well and good, but Christie doesn’t have a vote. The national committeeman from New Jersey will be elected by the 42 members of the New Jersey Republican Committee – one man and one woman from each of the 21 counties. The two committee members from Morris are Larry Casha and Christina Ramirez.

Palatucci says Casha is supporting him; Ramirez is a long-time friend of Sette.

Sette said his main gripe with Palatucci revolved around Rosemary Becchi, who is now the favored GOP congressional candidate in the 11th District. But at the time of the flap in question, Becchi was running against Tom Kean Jr. for the Republican nod in the 7th District.

Palatucci and most other establishment Republicans were supporting Kean. But Palatucci took it a step further, writing a letter telling Republicans not to donate to Becchi’s campaign.

“He shouldn’t have done that,” Sette said, adding that Palatucci “gave me so much (crap) over a three-hundred and fifty dollar donation to Rosemary.”

This dust-up became moot when Becchi opted to run in the 11th District, giving Kean a clear path in the 7th. But scars apparently remain.

Sette called the episode “the last straw” in his decision to run.

This is one of those internal party squabbles that is unlikely to interest average folk.

But for party insiders, it’s going to be fun to watch.