Mayoral recall leader: I’ll make donation
By Vic Monaco, Managing Editor
HIGHTSTOWN — Since July, when he first announced his intention to try to have Mayor Bob Patten recalled from office, J.P. Gibbons has stressed that he would pay the associated costs from his own pocket.
Even while questioning the $16,650 cost estimate for a potential special election provided in August by Borough Clerk/
Administrator Candace Gallagher, the North Main Street activist maintained that taxpayers need not be concerned with footing the bill.
Now, amid word that a state law would prohibit his direct payment for the potential election, Mr. Gibbons says there’s still no reason for borough residents to fear. Because, he says, “I can donate whatever I want to the borough.”
But he does have a couple caveats, and a member of Mayor Patten’s recall defense committee says she believes he and his committee simply can’t cover all the costs.
Ashley Hutchinson, an attorney who chairs the borough GOP Committee, says a state law limiting individual contributions to $2,600 prohibits Mr. Gibbons from paying for the special election. Given that individual limit, she adds, the four-
member committee could only spend $10,400.
“The recall committee could pay the costs of the election from its campaign fund,” but, she said, she would be “shocked” if the committee could raise anywhere near that amount.
General comments from the executive director of the New Jersey Law Enforcement Commission indicate Ms. Hutchinson is correct about the law.
Fred Herrmann said members of recall committees are bound by the $2,600 individual contribution limits.
“If you had four people, five people, six people on a committee and one happens to be a millionaire, one person can’t give more than the contribution limit,” he said.
Ms. Hutchinson said, “ELEC laws exist to prevent the election process from being subverted by special interests and the wealthy. There is a specific purpose for limiting contributions — so people can’t buy elections.”
She added, “Given that Mr. Gibbons has publicly stated that he has spent $1,000 on signs, an undetermined amount of attorney fees as well as paying circulators of the petition, he must be close to his individual contribution amount.”
While the defense committee’s main position is that Mr. Gibbons has no justification for the recall effort, Ms. Hutchinson said the cost of the potential election is important.
“The purpose of bringing this forward is not to discourage people from expressing their views, it is to let people know that Mr. Gibbons is not being honest about his ability to pay for the election,” she said.
“Why should taxpayers pay for J.P.’s gripe?” she asked.
Mr. Gibbons’ reply: “The taxpayers should not have to pay, as they have over the years, for Bob’s mistakes.”
In explaining his efforts, Mr. Gibbons has said Mayor Patten’s “divisive” and exclusionary tactics have hurt the borough’s economy and reputation. The mayor has responded by saying the recall effort has no justification.
Mr. Gibbons indicated this week that he was not at all surprised by Ms. Hutchinson’s position, nor does he technically disagree with it.
“We were informed initially by the borough clerk that the borough is responsible for the cost of the special election and that anyone can assist the borough or reimburse the borough for the cost,” he said. “I have pledged that if the recall election takes place that the borough will not be out any reasonable funds for the special election.”
Asked about his definition of “reasonable,” he pointed to borough estimates of its legal fees thus far at $2,000 to $2,500.
“I don’t necessary believe that’s correct,” he said. “And if they want to pay the cost for Bob to review the recall petition, I’m not paying for that.”
Mr. Gibbons, who says he owns several consulting businesses, said this week that he has made several donations to the borough in the past, to such entities as the Parks and Recreation Department, the Fire Company and the First Aid Squad. But he feels that elaborating on them would be “self-serving.”
“I will make sure the taxpayers/borough are reimbursed for the cost of the election,” he stressed.
Mr. Gibbons said earlier this month that had had gathered about 500 of the 633 signatures of registered voters needed to get the question on a special election ballot. Ms. Gallagher indicated last week that the earliest such an election could be held would be mid-February.

