Millstone rejects
‘pay-to-play’ limits
By alison granito
Staff Writer
Donors to political campaigns in Millstone can continue to receive public contracts — at least for now.
After months of discussion, the Township Committee decided not to pursue legislation that would prevent professionals — such as attorneys, planners, and engineers — who donate a certain amount of money to political campaigns from receiving public contracts. The practice has become known as "pay-to-play."
Since last fall, the committee has discussed the issue several times. At last week’s meeting, a poll of the committee members yielded a 3-2 result with the majority rejecting a motion to place legislation on a future agenda for formal introduction. The split was along party lines.
The Democrats, Mayor William Nurko, Deputy Mayor Charles Abate, and Committeeman Chet Halka, opposed the legislation. GOP Committeeman Cory Wingerter and John Pfefferkorn supported placing some limits on pay-to-play at the local level.
The three Democrats cited a variety of reasons in their decision to oppose legislation.
Mayor William Nurko said he wanted to see legislation that prevents pay-to-play at the state level before considering local limits.
"I want to see the big boys belly up to the bar first," he said.
"Let’s raise the bar and set the example [in Millstone]," Pfefferkorn said.
"[State officials] get paid the big bucks; let them set the example," Abate said.
Halka said that he felt any kind of limits on campaign contributions could prevent qualified people from running for office. He noted that it was not unusual for a candidate who spends more money on a campaign than his opponent to win an election.
"Only a wealthy man could afford to campaign. A poor guy with nothing but heart for the town would not be able to compete against a wealthy guy," he said.
The legislation that the committee looked at was drafted by Common Cause New Jersey, a nonpartisan organization that encourages civic and political reform.
Previously Common Cause representatives told township officials that their legislation is on the books in about six towns around the state.
Last week, Wingerter, who was the first to bring the issue before the committee last year, said he favored a version of the Common Cause ordinance recently adopted in Freehold Township.
According to Township Attorney Duane Davison, who also acts as the attorney in Freehold Township, individual contributors may give up to $400 in contributions to candidates or local and county party committees and remain eligible to receive public contracts. Firms are limited to total donations of $2,500, according to the threshold set by Freehold’s law.
Pfefferkorn said he favored "zero tolerance" and wanted the committee to introduce legislation that would ban any professional who donates to a political campaign from receiving a township contract. In addition, he wanted the legislation to include provisions that would deem professionals who donated to political action committees — who would then donate to a candidate — ineligible for public contracts.
In a small town such as Millstone, Pfefferkorn said, such contributions can "swing a campaign."
In the past few elections, campaign finance reform has been a hot button issue. Pfefferkorn has often blasted other members of the committee — both Democrat and Republican — for accepting contributions from township professionals including Davison’s law firm and T&M, Middletown, the township engineers.
"I think that, for the public, we need an arm’s length transaction," he said at last week’s meeting.
"I take it as a direct attack on my integrity," Nurko said of the pay-to-play legislation. "If anybody thinks that I can be bought than don’t vote for me."
"If only five or six towns are doing it than why should we do it?" Abate said.