Freeholders adopt rules on campaign financing

The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders has adopted what is believed to be the strongest pay-to-play reforms in New Jersey that caps all contributions from anyone doing business with the county. It also restricts the wheeling of campaign contributions from out-of-county special interests, political committees, candidate committees and political action committees.

According to a press release from the county's Department of Public Information, the resolution adopted by the board on Aug. 9 is the result of weeks of work by a bipartisan committee led by Freeholder Robert D. Clifton and Freeholder Barbara J. McMorrow, working in tandem with Citizens Campaign, a citizens' lobbying organization, as well as county staff.

The ban becomes effective Sept. 1 and will apply to money raised and spent on this fall's county elections.

"This resolution is about good government and instilling confidence in government officials," McMorrow said.

"The reforms contained in this resolution go well beyond any restrictions imposed by the state," said Clifton. "Monmouth County residents can be proud that we now have the strongest pay-to-play and campaign financing reforms passed by any county in the state."

According to the press release, the resolution achieves the following:

• Caps all contributions from anyone doing business with the county;

• Limits the wheeling (putting money into Monmouth County) from out-of-county campaign contributions from special interests, political committees, candidate committees and PACs (political action committees) to $2,600;

• Restricts contributions from state PPCs (political party committees) to $2,600;

• Requires all contracts for professional services to be put out to bid under the fair and open process the county adopted last year;

• Prevents the circumvention of these restrictions by prohibiting the laundering of contributions via third parties such as lobbyists, consultants, employees and family members.

The resolution also contains a penalty for anyone violating the law, by making it a breach of contract for a business entity doing work for Monmouth County. Any business that violates the law will be barred from eligibility for future Monmouth County contracts for a period of four years, according to the press release.