UPDATE: Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan storms the field and puts the power of the veto behind DeNicola and Hermansen’s efforts to hold the line on pay-to-play reform. Read The Record article on Friday morning’s veto.
Passed in December of 2011, the fall of 2012 would have been the first general election where contractors and vendors would be subjected to new pay-to-play reforms aimed at blocking the buying of influence, contracts or jobs in Bergen County.
With only weeks left till the end of the 2012 campaign season, 4 Bergen County Freeholders are not willing to let the clock run out, and are making a drive to change the rules of the game in mid-season.
On October 3rd, Ganz, Voss, Felice and Mitchell will be trying to rush the team of DeNicola and Hermansen in an effort to score a touchdown in the campaign end zone where county contractors and vendors are waiting.
The Bergen County pay-to-play law passed in December of 2011 caps county contractors and vendors to donations of $300 per candidate or $2,500 overall in an election cycle. But a political campaign travels on its wallet, and the need to feed candidate campaigns is sending four Freeholders out on to the field to push back the reforms implemented just 9 months ago.
Felice, Ganz, Voss & Mitchell, 2 Republicans and 2 Democrats, are teaming up against Republican Freeholders DeNicola and Hermansen in an effort to change the rules of the game in mid-season.
While Governor Chris Christie has thrown his support behind pay-to-play reform in New Jersey, he can’t be on the field with DeNicola and Hermansen on October 3rd at 8pm in Hackensack – though his political girth would certainly help DeNicola and Hermansen hold the line.
Critics of the law, citing that money talks, have argued that the ordinance in its entirety is unconstitutional because it restricts free speech. Supporters argue that the law works to protect the integrity of Bergen County government from future scandals concerning how government contracts are awarded.
Voss, Ganz, Felice and Mitchell brought the ordinance back to the table on October 3rd, with just weeks to go in the campaign season, in an effort to open up some loopholes. DeNicola and Hermansen voted to hold the line.
Whether the October 3rd faceoff results in an end run around the pay-to-play law, or whether a drive down the center leads to the law being gutted, is anybody’s guess.
Tune in October 3rd, 8pm, Hackensack for the big playoff and/or the big payoff.
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Will any of this “loot” from Bergen County vendors and contractors trickle down to the Oakland Republican Club?