Guest Guest Posted October 5, 2007 Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 Its coming. From Friday's Asbury Park Press Municipal organizations give to county party, get around law Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 10/5/07 BY JAMES W. PRADO ROBERTS STAFF WRITER Another way around the state's pay-to-play ban unfolded in Hudson County, where the Democratic Party endured blistering primary battles this spring for two open state Senate seats. Before the prohibition, Hudson Democrats took contributions from engineering companies, law firms and their partners, who pursue work at all levels of New Jersey government. But since New Jersey banned such contributions to county party organizations, Hudson Democrats found a way around the ban: municipal party organizations. In just four months this year, four municipal political committees reported pumping in more than $925,000 to the Hudson County Democratic Party, some 62 percent of the money raised by the county party in the first half of this year. The municipal parties contributed more to the Hudson County organization than all municipal political committees in the county did in the previous eight years combined. One of the reasons a municipal party is useful as a fund-raising tool is that there is no limit on how much a municipal party may give to a county party under New Jersey law. Individuals or candidates' campaigns, for instance, are limited to contributions of $37,000. The move was a major shift for the county organization, traditionally a Democratic powerhouse unused to major primary battles. Although much of the money raised by the four municipal committees came from local businesses and government employees, nearly $130,000 came either from state vendors that are barred by law from giving to the county committee — or their representatives. The Harrison Municipal Democratic Committee, for example, raised $215,000 in four months and gave $200,000 to the Hudson County Democratic Committee. Harrison's Democratic candidates for Town Council had no primary opposition and face independent candidates in November's general election. The Harrison Democratic Party hadn't even had a bank account since at least 2000, although Mayor Raymond J. McDonough was re-elected last fall with 59 percent of the 2,684 votes cast. Almost a third of contributions to Harrison Democrats came from state vendors or their representatives, according to election contribution and other state records. "As far as I knew there was a fundraiser in Kearny," said Gregory P. Kowalski, a redevelopment lawyer and the paid executive director of the Harrison Redevelopment Agency. Kowalski became treasurer in May after his friend the mayor asked him to do the job. He said he had no knowledge of the reasons for any of the contributions, but he said some that contributed do business with Harrison government. McDonough could not be reached for comment. The Hudson County Democrats used the municipal party money, in part, to defeat Assemblyman Louis M. Manzo in his attempt to win the Democratic primary for the 31st District state Senate seat this year. A Democrat who wins that Hudson County primary is virtually assured to win in the general election, but Manzo was out of favor with the county organization and lost to party-backed Sandra Cunningham. "Under the guise of reforming pay-to-play . . . what they really were doing was strengthening the ability of the parties to control candidates for office, especially those that have to run through primaries," said Manzo, a two-term assemblyman who is leaving elected office when his term expires in January. "Everybody was saying, "Hallelujah, they got reform.' All it did was made it worse." Dominick Pandolfo, the executive director of the Hudson County Democratic Organization, and Edward J. Florio, the organization's legal counsel, said they were new in their positions and could not comment. Middletown firm's money Several of the vendors that gave to the municipal committees in Hudson County were once generous contributors to the county's Democratic organization. Among them was T&M Associates, a Middletown engineering firm, which contributed $7,200 each to the Harrison Municipal Democratic Committee and the Jersey City Democratic Committee this spring, the most it can contribute to a political committee in a single year. T&M had been a regular supporter of the Hudson County Democratic Party, contributing $17,150 since 1998, according to state campaign finance records. But giving to that committee stopped in 2004 when Gov. James E. McGreevey's anti-pay-to-play executive order took effect. The Harrison committee raised $215,300 from March to June and gave $200,000 of that directly to the county Democratic Party. The Jersey City committee, which appears to have been dormant since 2002, raised $256,250 this year, of which $223,300 went to the Hudson County Democratic Party, its filings with the state Election Law Enforcement Commission show. Discuss this series on APP.COM Forums: http://forums.app.com/viewforum.php?f=176 Gannett State Bureau reporters Jonathan Tamari and Gregory J. Volpe contributed to this report. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted October 5, 2007 Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 I don't understand, I mean I do understand what went down, I just don't understand why it was wrong. Are these the contractors that got the jobs building the new school that they keep digging up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted October 5, 2007 Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 Its coming. From Friday's Asbury Park PressMunicipal organizations give to county party, get around law Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 10/5/07 BY JAMES W. PRADO ROBERTS STAFF WRITER Another way around the state's pay-to-play ban unfolded in Hudson County, where the Democratic Party endured blistering primary battles this spring for two open state Senate seats. Before the prohibition, Hudson Democrats took contributions from engineering companies, law firms and their partners, who pursue work at all levels of New Jersey government. But since New Jersey banned such contributions to county party organizations, Hudson Democrats found a way around the ban: municipal party organizations. In just four months this year, four municipal political committees reported pumping in more than $925,000 to the Hudson County Democratic Party, some 62 percent of the money raised by the county party in the first half of this year. The municipal parties contributed more to the Hudson County organization than all municipal political committees in the county did in the previous eight years combined. One of the reasons a municipal party is useful as a fund-raising tool is that there is no limit on how much a municipal party may give to a county party under New Jersey law. Individuals or candidates' campaigns, for instance, are limited to contributions of $37,000. The move was a major shift for the county organization, traditionally a Democratic powerhouse unused to major primary battles. Although much of the money raised by the four municipal committees came from local businesses and government employees, nearly $130,000 came either from state vendors that are barred by law from giving to the county committee — or their representatives. The Harrison Municipal Democratic Committee, for example, raised $215,000 in four months and gave $200,000 to the Hudson County Democratic Committee. Harrison's Democratic candidates for Town Council had no primary opposition and face independent candidates in November's general election. The Harrison Democratic Party hadn't even had a bank account since at least 2000, although Mayor Raymond J. McDonough was re-elected last fall with 59 percent of the 2,684 votes cast. Almost a third of contributions to Harrison Democrats came from state vendors or their representatives, according to election contribution and other state records. "As far as I knew there was a fundraiser in Kearny," said Gregory P. Kowalski, a redevelopment lawyer and the paid executive director of the Harrison Redevelopment Agency. Kowalski became treasurer in May after his friend the mayor asked him to do the job. He said he had no knowledge of the reasons for any of the contributions, but he said some that contributed do business with Harrison government. McDonough could not be reached for comment. The Hudson County Democrats used the municipal party money, in part, to defeat Assemblyman Louis M. Manzo in his attempt to win the Democratic primary for the 31st District state Senate seat this year. A Democrat who wins that Hudson County primary is virtually assured to win in the general election, but Manzo was out of favor with the county organization and lost to party-backed Sandra Cunningham. "Under the guise of reforming pay-to-play . . . what they really were doing was strengthening the ability of the parties to control candidates for office, especially those that have to run through primaries," said Manzo, a two-term assemblyman who is leaving elected office when his term expires in January. "Everybody was saying, "Hallelujah, they got reform.' All it did was made it worse." Dominick Pandolfo, the executive director of the Hudson County Democratic Organization, and Edward J. Florio, the organization's legal counsel, said they were new in their positions and could not comment. Middletown firm's money Several of the vendors that gave to the municipal committees in Hudson County were once generous contributors to the county's Democratic organization. Among them was T&M Associates, a Middletown engineering firm, which contributed $7,200 each to the Harrison Municipal Democratic Committee and the Jersey City Democratic Committee this spring, the most it can contribute to a political committee in a single year. T&M had been a regular supporter of the Hudson County Democratic Party, contributing $17,150 since 1998, according to state campaign finance records. But giving to that committee stopped in 2004 when Gov. James E. McGreevey's anti-pay-to-play executive order took effect. The Harrison committee raised $215,300 from March to June and gave $200,000 of that directly to the county Democratic Party. The Jersey City committee, which appears to have been dormant since 2002, raised $256,250 this year, of which $223,300 went to the Hudson County Democratic Party, its filings with the state Election Law Enforcement Commission show. Discuss this series on APP.COM Forums: http://forums.app.com/viewforum.php?f=176 Gannett State Bureau reporters Jonathan Tamari and Gregory J. Volpe contributed to this report. 68411[/snapback] These Politicians are a bunch of crooks, tell me who is making out here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted October 5, 2007 Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 Its coming. From Friday's Asbury Park PressMunicipal organizations give to county party, get around law Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 10/5/07 BY JAMES W. PRADO ROBERTS STAFF WRITER Another way around the state's pay-to-play ban unfolded in Hudson County, where the Democratic Party endured blistering primary battles this spring for two open state Senate seats. Before the prohibition, Hudson Democrats took contributions from engineering companies, law firms and their partners, who pursue work at all levels of New Jersey government. But since New Jersey banned such contributions to county party organizations, Hudson Democrats found a way around the ban: municipal party organizations. In just four months this year, four municipal political committees reported pumping in more than $925,000 to the Hudson County Democratic Party, some 62 percent of the money raised by the county party in the first half of this year. The municipal parties contributed more to the Hudson County organization than all municipal political committees in the county did in the previous eight years combined. One of the reasons a municipal party is useful as a fund-raising tool is that there is no limit on how much a municipal party may give to a county party under New Jersey law. Individuals or candidates' campaigns, for instance, are limited to contributions of $37,000. The move was a major shift for the county organization, traditionally a Democratic powerhouse unused to major primary battles. Although much of the money raised by the four municipal committees came from local businesses and government employees, nearly $130,000 came either from state vendors that are barred by law from giving to the county committee — or their representatives. The Harrison Municipal Democratic Committee, for example, raised $215,000 in four months and gave $200,000 to the Hudson County Democratic Committee. Harrison's Democratic candidates for Town Council had no primary opposition and face independent candidates in November's general election. The Harrison Democratic Party hadn't even had a bank account since at least 2000, although Mayor Raymond J. McDonough was re-elected last fall with 59 percent of the 2,684 votes cast. Almost a third of contributions to Harrison Democrats came from state vendors or their representatives, according to election contribution and other state records. "As far as I knew there was a fundraiser in Kearny," said Gregory P. Kowalski, a redevelopment lawyer and the paid executive director of the Harrison Redevelopment Agency. Kowalski became treasurer in May after his friend the mayor asked him to do the job. He said he had no knowledge of the reasons for any of the contributions, but he said some that contributed do business with Harrison government. McDonough could not be reached for comment. The Hudson County Democrats used the municipal party money, in part, to defeat Assemblyman Louis M. Manzo in his attempt to win the Democratic primary for the 31st District state Senate seat this year. A Democrat who wins that Hudson County primary is virtually assured to win in the general election, but Manzo was out of favor with the county organization and lost to party-backed Sandra Cunningham. "Under the guise of reforming pay-to-play . . . what they really were doing was strengthening the ability of the parties to control candidates for office, especially those that have to run through primaries," said Manzo, a two-term assemblyman who is leaving elected office when his term expires in January. "Everybody was saying, "Hallelujah, they got reform.' All it did was made it worse." Dominick Pandolfo, the executive director of the Hudson County Democratic Organization, and Edward J. Florio, the organization's legal counsel, said they were new in their positions and could not comment. Middletown firm's money Several of the vendors that gave to the municipal committees in Hudson County were once generous contributors to the county's Democratic organization. Among them was T&M Associates, a Middletown engineering firm, which contributed $7,200 each to the Harrison Municipal Democratic Committee and the Jersey City Democratic Committee this spring, the most it can contribute to a political committee in a single year. T&M had been a regular supporter of the Hudson County Democratic Party, contributing $17,150 since 1998, according to state campaign finance records. But giving to that committee stopped in 2004 when Gov. James E. McGreevey's anti-pay-to-play executive order took effect. The Harrison committee raised $215,300 from March to June and gave $200,000 of that directly to the county Democratic Party. The Jersey City committee, which appears to have been dormant since 2002, raised $256,250 this year, of which $223,300 went to the Hudson County Democratic Party, its filings with the state Election Law Enforcement Commission show. Discuss this series on APP.COM Forums: http://forums.app.com/viewforum.php?f=176 Gannett State Bureau reporters Jonathan Tamari and Gregory J. Volpe contributed to this report. 68411[/snapback] THE ONLY REASON THAT MCDONOUGH WAS RE-ELECTED IS BECAUSE OF ALL THE INTIMIDATION THAT GOES ON BY ALL THOSE MAKING ALL THE $$$$$ FOR THEMSELVES AND NOT FOR THE PEOPLE OF HARRISON. THE MAYOR IS THE CRIMINAL OF OUR TOWN FOR ALLOWING ALL THIS CRAP TO GO ON, HOW IS THAT CARING FOR THE PEOPLE??????? DON'T GET ME WRONG HE IS NOT ALONE ALL THE COUNCIL PEOPLE THAT ARE PUT IN AND GIVEN A JOB, ARE ALL IN ON IT, THEY HAVE A JOB TO WORRY ABOUT......THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE, IT'S ABOUT THEIR POCKETS BEING FILLED. 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Guest Guest Posted October 5, 2007 Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 Municipal organizations give to county party, get around law Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 10/5/07 BY JAMES W. PRADO ROBERTS STAFF WRITER Another way around the state's pay-to-play ban unfolded in Hudson County, where the Democratic Party endured blistering primary battles this spring for two open state Senate seats. Before the prohibition, Hudson Democrats took contributions from engineering companies, law firms and their partners, who pursue work at all levels of New Jersey government. But since New Jersey banned such contributions to county party organizations, Hudson Democrats found a way around the ban: municipal party organizations. In just four months this year, four municipal political committees reported pumping in more than $925,000 to the Hudson County Democratic Party, some 62 percent of the money raised by the county party in the first half of this year. The municipal parties contributed more to the Hudson County organization than all municipal political committees in the county did in the previous eight years combined. One of the reasons a municipal party is useful as a fund-raising tool is that there is no limit on how much a municipal party may give to a county party under New Jersey law. Individuals or candidates' campaigns, for instance, are limited to contributions of $37,000. The move was a major shift for the county organization, traditionally a Democratic powerhouse unused to major primary battles. Although much of the money raised by the four municipal committees came from local businesses and government employees, nearly $130,000 came either from state vendors that are barred by law from giving to the county committee — or their representatives. The Harrison Municipal Democratic Committee, for example, raised $215,000 in four months and gave $200,000 to the Hudson County Democratic Committee. Harrison's Democratic candidates for Town Council had no primary opposition and face independent candidates in November's general election. The Harrison Democratic Party hadn't even had a bank account since at least 2000, although Mayor Raymond J. McDonough was re-elected last fall with 59 percent of the 2,684 votes cast. Almost a third of contributions to Harrison Democrats came from state vendors or their representatives, according to election contribution and other state records. "As far as I knew there was a fundraiser in Kearny," said Gregory P. Kowalski, a redevelopment lawyer and the paid executive director of the Harrison Redevelopment Agency. Kowalski became treasurer in May after his friend the mayor asked him to do the job. He said he had no knowledge of the reasons for any of the contributions, but he said some that contributed do business with Harrison government. McDonough could not be reached for comment. The Hudson County Democrats used the municipal party money, in part, to defeat Assemblyman Louis M. Manzo in his attempt to win the Democratic primary for the 31st District state Senate seat this year. A Democrat who wins that Hudson County primary is virtually assured to win in the general election, but Manzo was out of favor with the county organization and lost to party-backed Sandra Cunningham. "Under the guise of reforming pay-to-play . . . what they really were doing was strengthening the ability of the parties to control candidates for office, especially those that have to run through primaries," said Manzo, a two-term assemblyman who is leaving elected office when his term expires in January. "Everybody was saying, "Hallelujah, they got reform.' All it did was made it worse." Dominick Pandolfo, the executive director of the Hudson County Democratic Organization, and Edward J. Florio, the organization's legal counsel, said they were new in their positions and could not comment. Middletown firm's money Several of the vendors that gave to the municipal committees in Hudson County were once generous contributors to the county's Democratic organization. Among them was T&M Associates, a Middletown engineering firm, which contributed $7,200 each to the Harrison Municipal Democratic Committee and the Jersey City Democratic Committee this spring, the most it can contribute to a political committee in a single year. T&M had been a regular supporter of the Hudson County Democratic Party, contributing $17,150 since 1998, according to state campaign finance records. But giving to that committee stopped in 2004 when Gov. James E. McGreevey's anti-pay-to-play executive order took effect. The Harrison committee raised $215,300 from March to June and gave $200,000 of that directly to the county Democratic Party. The Jersey City committee, which appears to have been dormant since 2002, raised $256,250 this year, of which $223,300 went to the Hudson County Democratic Party, its filings with the state Election Law Enforcement Commission show. Discuss this series on APP.COM Forums: http://forums.app.com/viewforum.php?f=176 Gannett State Bureau reporters Jonathan Tamari and Gregory J. Volpe contributed to this report. Copyright © 2007 Asbury Park Press. All rights reserved. Users of this site agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy/Your California Privacy Rights (Terms updated March 2007) Site design by Asbury Park Press / Contact us WOW http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?A.../NEWS/710050392 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guesttttt Posted October 6, 2007 Report Share Posted October 6, 2007 THE ONLY REASON THAT MCDONOUGH WAS RE-ELECTED IS BECAUSE OF ALL THE INTIMIDATION THAT GOES ON BY ALL THOSE MAKING ALL THE $$$$$ FOR THEMSELVES AND NOT FOR THE PEOPLE OF HARRISON. THE MAYOR IS THE CRIMINAL OF OUR TOWN FOR ALLOWING ALL THIS CRAP TO GO ON, HOW IS THAT CARING FOR THE PEOPLE??????? DON'T GET ME WRONG HE IS NOT ALONE ALL THE COUNCIL PEOPLE THAT ARE PUT IN AND GIVEN A JOB, ARE ALL IN ON IT, THEY HAVE A JOB TO WORRY ABOUT......THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE, IT'S ABOUT THEIR POCKETS BEING FILLED. 68446[/snapback] Well Said If You go to the Town Meetings You will notice it is all the Town Workers that are at them...They have to go...And Mr. *** likes to stand in the halls or at the door and try to out stare People who are there not foer His crooked crew... KOTW Note: The above post was edited for content. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted October 6, 2007 Report Share Posted October 6, 2007 I don't understand, I mean I do understand what went down, I just don't understand why it was wrong. Are these the contractors that got the jobs building the new school that they keep digging up? 68429[/snapback] Example The town hires an attorney to represent them in contracts talks with the town employees. Because this is a contract for professional services no bid is required. The attorney charges a huge fee for the services. He then makes donations to the Harrison Democratic Party. Q. Who is paying for the donation to the Democratic Organization. A. The taxpayer who is paying for the services of the attorney who is charging more than the taxpayer should be paying. Thus: "Pay to Play" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 6, 2007 Report Share Posted October 6, 2007 "As far as I knew there was a fundraiser in Kearny," said Gregory P. Kowalski, a redevelopment lawyer and the paid executive director of the Harrison Redevelopment Agency. Kowalski became treasurer in May after his friend the mayor asked him to do the job. He said he had no knowledge of the reasons for any of the contributions, but he said some that contributed do business with Harrison government. McDonough could not be reached for comment. "His friend, the mayor" happens to be his brother- in-law --------- the Mayor! How come the mayor can never be reached for comment???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted October 8, 2007 Report Share Posted October 8, 2007 "As far as I knew there was a fundraiser in Kearny," said Gregory P. Kowalski, a redevelopment lawyer and the paid executive director of the Harrison Redevelopment Agency.Kowalski became treasurer in May after his friend the mayor asked him to do the job. He said he had no knowledge of the reasons for any of the contributions, but he said some that contributed do business with Harrison government. McDonough could not be reached for comment. "His friend, the mayor" happens to be his brother- in-law --------- the Mayor! How come the mayor can never be reached for comment???? 68528[/snapback] He doesn't return phone calls either. He is killing us and most of all killing the kids in this town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 I don't understand, I mean I do understand what went down, I just don't understand why it was wrong. Are these the contractors that got the jobs building the new school that they keep digging up? 68429[/snapback] .click below. http://www.elec.state.nj.us/ in the quick links on the right side .....candidate or committee report Harrison Municipal Democratic Committee.. show and tell its all there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 Check on datauniverse.com and you can see who donated what to whom. (copy and paste) Tick tock, Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted October 12, 2007 Report Share Posted October 12, 2007 ExampleThe town hires an attorney to represent them in contracts talks with the town employees. Because this is a contract for professional services no bid is required. The attorney charges a huge fee for the services. He then makes donations to the Harrison Democratic Party. Q. Who is paying for the donation to the Democratic Organization. A. The taxpayer who is paying for the services of the attorney who is charging more than the taxpayer should be paying. Thus: "Pay to Play" 68503[/snapback] Like Murray and Kawalski (mayors bro in law) !!!!!!!! Who is making out, not the taxpayers, not the residents, not the businesses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted October 12, 2007 Report Share Posted October 12, 2007 what S**ks is when we have to move because we can't pay taxes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted October 18, 2007 Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 Like Murray and Kawalski (mayors bro in law) !!!!!!!! Who is making out, not the taxpayers, not the residents, not the businesses. 69093[/snapback] just be happy crime is down in harrison! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted October 22, 2007 Report Share Posted October 22, 2007 Municipal organizations give to county party, get around lawPosted by the Asbury Park Press on 10/5/07 BY JAMES W. PRADO ROBERTS STAFF WRITER Another way around the state's pay-to-play ban unfolded in Hudson County, where the Democratic Party endured blistering primary battles this spring for two open state Senate seats. Before the prohibition, Hudson Democrats took contributions from engineering companies, law firms and their partners, who pursue work at all levels of New Jersey government. But since New Jersey banned such contributions to county party organizations, Hudson Democrats found a way around the ban: municipal party organizations. In just four months this year, four municipal political committees reported pumping in more than $925,000 to the Hudson County Democratic Party, some 62 percent of the money raised by the county party in the first half of this year. The municipal parties contributed more to the Hudson County organization than all municipal political committees in the county did in the previous eight years combined. One of the reasons a municipal party is useful as a fund-raising tool is that there is no limit on how much a municipal party may give to a county party under New Jersey law. Individuals or candidates' campaigns, for instance, are limited to contributions of $37,000. The move was a major shift for the county organization, traditionally a Democratic powerhouse unused to major primary battles. Although much of the money raised by the four municipal committees came from local businesses and government employees, nearly $130,000 came either from state vendors that are barred by law from giving to the county committee — or their representatives. The Harrison Municipal Democratic Committee, for example, raised $215,000 in four months and gave $200,000 to the Hudson County Democratic Committee. Harrison's Democratic candidates for Town Council had no primary opposition and face independent candidates in November's general election. The Harrison Democratic Party hadn't even had a bank account since at least 2000, although Mayor Raymond J. McDonough was re-elected last fall with 59 percent of the 2,684 votes cast. Almost a third of contributions to Harrison Democrats came from state vendors or their representatives, according to election contribution and other state records. "As far as I knew there was a fundraiser in Kearny," said Gregory P. Kowalski, a redevelopment lawyer and the paid executive director of the Harrison Redevelopment Agency. Kowalski became treasurer in May after his friend the mayor asked him to do the job. He said he had no knowledge of the reasons for any of the contributions, but he said some that contributed do business with Harrison government. McDonough could not be reached for comment. The Hudson County Democrats used the municipal party money, in part, to defeat Assemblyman Louis M. Manzo in his attempt to win the Democratic primary for the 31st District state Senate seat this year. A Democrat who wins that Hudson County primary is virtually assured to win in the general election, but Manzo was out of favor with the county organization and lost to party-backed Sandra Cunningham. "Under the guise of reforming pay-to-play . . . what they really were doing was strengthening the ability of the parties to control candidates for office, especially those that have to run through primaries," said Manzo, a two-term assemblyman who is leaving elected office when his term expires in January. "Everybody was saying, "Hallelujah, they got reform.' All it did was made it worse." Dominick Pandolfo, the executive director of the Hudson County Democratic Organization, and Edward J. Florio, the organization's legal counsel, said they were new in their positions and could not comment. Middletown firm's money Several of the vendors that gave to the municipal committees in Hudson County were once generous contributors to the county's Democratic organization. Among them was T&M Associates, a Middletown engineering firm, which contributed $7,200 each to the Harrison Municipal Democratic Committee and the Jersey City Democratic Committee this spring, the most it can contribute to a political committee in a single year. T&M had been a regular supporter of the Hudson County Democratic Party, contributing $17,150 since 1998, according to state campaign finance records. But giving to that committee stopped in 2004 when Gov. James E. McGreevey's anti-pay-to-play executive order took effect. The Harrison committee raised $215,300 from March to June and gave $200,000 of that directly to the county Democratic Party. The Jersey City committee, which appears to have been dormant since 2002, raised $256,250 this year, of which $223,300 went to the Hudson County Democratic Party, its filings with the state Election Law Enforcement Commission show. Discuss this series on APP.COM Forums: http://forums.app.com/viewforum.php?f=176 Gannett State Bureau reporters Jonathan Tamari and Gregory J. Volpe contributed to this report. Copyright © 2007 Asbury Park Press. All rights reserved. Users of this site agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy/Your California Privacy Rights (Terms updated March 2007) Site design by Asbury Park Press / Contact us WOW http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?A.../NEWS/710050392 68457[/snapback] Is this story connected to todays newspapers. http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/b...0090.xml&coll=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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