Jim Cann, Democratic candidate for Bordentown Township Committee
To the editor:
Every election season, I am continually asked why the Republican candidates for Township Committee have many more signs, flyers, newspaper advertising, (and this year, even television commercials) than the Democratic candidates. Others query why the Democrats are not investing the same amount of money into their campaigns. The simple answer is that the Republican candidates have more money at their disposal. In fact, our Democratic candidates are significantly outspent by the Republicans every single campaign season. So how do the Republicans accomplish this and who is paying for all this advertising? Well, the answer might surprise you. Indirectly and in part, you are.
The reason for this is the centuries-old system known as “Pay-to-Play.” Pay-to-Play is the practice in which public officials award lucrative contracts and jobs to individuals, businesses, and organizations in exchange for political contributions. Incumbent candidates and their political organizations are typically the greatest beneficiaries of pay-to-play. Opponents of pay-to-play often characterize it as legalized corruption. The practice also extends to party organizations, such as county and state committees. This manner of pay-to-play utilizes “soft-money” or money which is donated to an intermediary with a higher contribution limit, which in turn finds its way to individual candidates or campaign committees.
In the past eight years, our Republican Township Committee members have accepted thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from professionals who were awarded lucrative contracts or jobs with the township. Included among the list of contributors who have filled Republican campaign coffers in recent years and reaped rewards are such appointees as our township attorney, engineers and planners, insurance agents, and accountants. (source: www.elec.state.nj.us/). Needless to say, the salaries for these jobs are paid by you the taxpayer.
Although it is perfectly legal and has become socially accepted political behavior, the Bordentown Township Democratic Party believes it is time to do what many other municipalities in the Garden State have done or are in the process of doing, which is end pay-to-play. More and more municipalities have taken such action to protect taxpayers from politicians willing to exchange campaign cash for government favors. Its impact has also had a corollary effect on voters at all levels of government, who have become distrustful of their elected officials because of the influence of lobbyists and special interests who don’t always necessarily have the best interest of the public in mind. One disillusioned senior resident in our township even told me, “I don’t vote anymore because all politicians are crooks!” As sad a commentary as that is on our political system, this sentiment is unfortunately understandable. That is why even the perception of impropriety must be removed from township politics.
Stephen Monson, Jason Medina, and I, the Democratic candidates for Township Committee, have neither sought nor accepted contributions from any vendors or professionals interested in doing business with the taxpayers of Bordentown Township. If elected on Nov. 4, one of our first official acts will be to introduce a comprehensive Pay-to Play ordinance to end what has become the common practice of private interests reaping benefits from taxpayers for their cash contributions to our elected officials. We believe that our township deserves the most qualified political appointees for the job, not the not the most generous campaign contributors.

