In 2007 changes were made to the New Jersey election laws to curb unbridled campaign contributions.
Contributions to campaign committees from individuals have dropped. As well-meaning as these changes were, you can always count on the Democrats to find a way around the laws.
In this case, three political action committees (PACs) were formed. These three committees are New Expectations, Metuchen; Women for Good Government, New Brunswick; and the Committee for Civic Responsibility, Princeton. These organizations have collected approximately $450,000 from many Democratic donors including Middlesex County Clerk Elaine Flynn and her husband, William; Monroe engineer Ernest Feist; Federal Risk Management, Towson, Md.; Shain, Schaffer and Rafanello, Attorneys at-Law; and T&M Associates, Red Bank. Many others also contributed.
In Monroe the Democratic campaign committee for Hank Miller, Gerald Tamburro and Pete Dalina has received two contributions totaling $23,500 from Women for Good Government and $17,500 from the Monroe Democratic Organization. The Monroe Democratic Organization has received contributions of $21,600 and $7,200 from the Committee for Civic Responsibility, $7,200 from Women for Good Government, and $7,200 from New Expectations.
The Democratic PACs are financing the municipal elections and making a joke out of any payto play ethics ordinances that have passed. It has allowed them to add another layer of contributions that are easily hidden from view.
Thomas Nothstein
Monroe