How can they be so inept?

Healy says he'll return money from questionable fundraiser


http://www.politickernj.com/63619/hea ... y-questionable-fundraiser


Healy says he'll return money from questionable fundraiser
Jersey City Mayor Jerry Healy
Healy says he'll return money from questionable fundraiser
By Darryl R. Isherwood | February 28th, 2013 - 4:29pm
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Jersey City Mayor Jerry Healy, facing accusations that his campaign sought to circumvent campaign finance rules at a fundraiser Wednesday, is returning all of the money raised at the event.

Josh Henne, a spokesman for the Healy campaign said though the campaign "always follows both the letter and the spirit of the law... Healy has already instructed his finance team to return any money raised last night."

According to the invitation, fundraiser was hosted by MBI Gluck Shaw lobbyists Paul Bontempo and Rudy Garcia and Verizon Vice President of Government Affairs Uli Diaz. It was held at the Cedra Grove home of Jose "Pepi" Garcia, according to the invitation to the Feb. 27 event.

The invitation asked supporters for a $1,000 donation and gave the option to donate directly to the Healy campaign or to "For New Jersey Families," an independent expenditure committee. The invitation clearly outlined that donating to the committee meant "no limits - no pay to play."

Under campaign finance law, independent expenditure groups may not coordinate with a campaign, state Election Law Enforcement Commission Executive Director Jeff Brindle, who was speaking generally and not about the specific fundraiser.

The group was formed January 30 by Rich Torraca, a state Democratic operative. Torraca did not return a call or email for comment.

Early Thursday, Healy spokesman Josh Henne said the campaign had no knowledge of the invitation. Later, he issued a statement saying the money would be returned.

Healy is known to have attended the fundraiser and the invitation has the required "Paid for by Team Healy 2013" line.

Bontempo, who is president and director of MBI Gluck Shaw did not return a call for comment. Diaz also did not return a call for comment.

From the JJ comments?.


Quote:

Quote:

http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/ ... esday-nights-fund-raiser/

Oops.

Someone tell Henne the Hack, who performs & writes stand up comedy, that he is becoming his own joke defending the indefensible.

Bar Keep! Another round!

Quote:

Thanks!

Healy's admitted he can't raise money with the pay-to-play laws in force. We know from 4 years ago his people will break the law. This is almost a dog-biotes-man story. No surprise.

See also the Politicker NJ thread.

You expect sleaze out of these guys. But they can't even skirt the rules the right way.

The Hague Machine built the Medical Center, kept the streets clean, and delivered the turkeys at Thanksgiving. The Healy Machine can't seem to do anything right.

I'd say they're out of gas, but every time they speak disproves that theory.

I'd like to hear a comment from the treasurer of the 2009 Healy re-election campaign, Leona Beldini. But that may be difficult, since she's still in federal prison in Texas, and won't be released until November 2014.

link

I wish I could say I am shocked by such a blatant disregard for the law, but it is the kind of behavior I've learned to expect from our mayor.

It seems Healy cannot finance his campaign by asking ordinary citizens for support. Instead, he must extort contributions from city employees and accept under the table contributions from people who stand to profit if he is re-elected.

I really hope we can put the days of machine politics behind us. It's embarrassing.

Healy fundraiser called into question
By Darryl R. Isherwood | February 28th, 2013 - 12:41pm

Jersey City Councilman and Mayoral candidate Steve Fulop is raising questions over a recent fundraiser held by his opponent, city Mayor Jerry Healy.

Fulop is calling into question whether Healy partnered with an independent expenditure organization in holding his fundraiser in an attempt to circumvent laws governing pay to play and campaign contribution limits.

At issue is the invitation to the Wednesday fundraiser held at the home of a Healy supporter. The invite to the event asks donors for a $1,000 contribution to attend. Donors have the option of writing the check directly to the Healy campaign or to For New Jersey Families and independent expenditure committee. The invitation states clearly that if the donation is made to the organization "no limits - no pay to play."

?Telling donors who attend the same fundraiser that they can either write checks to the campaign or to this allegedly independent organization shows coordination between the two organizations,? campaign manager John Thieroff said. ?It?s a clear violation of the law.?

When asked for comment, a spokesman for the Healy camp seemed to disavow the invitation.

?We have absolutely no knowledge of solicitations for anything other than Healy for Mayor or Team Healy. Every invitation by this campaign has a paid-for-line and strictly follows the letter of the law. I can?t say the same thing for Steve Fulop,? said Healy campaign spokesman Joshua Henne.

The invitation clearly states "Paid for by Team Healy 2013."


Jeff Brindle, Executive Director of the State Election Law Enforcement Commission said while he cannot comment on any specific instance or accusation, in general an independent expenditure committee cannot coordinate with a campaign.

"That's the law. There can't be any coordination between the two," he said.

Thieroff said the names of contributors to New Jersey Families must be fully disclosed and they must be held to the same contribution limits and pay-to-play restrictions as if they were donating directly to the mayor?s campaign.

?We are truly astonished at the blatant violation of the public trust by the city?s top elected official,? Thieroff said. ?The taxpayers of our city need to know immediately who these anonymous contributors are and what they expect in exchange from this mayor for these donations.?

A search of IRS data brings up one entry for For New Jersey Families. According to documents filed with the IRS, the 527 was formed on January 30 and was registered to Rich Torraca at a MIlltown, NJ address.

An internet search showed a Rich Torraca is employed by Sen. Frank Lautenberg. Calls to Lautenberg's office were not immediately returned.

Torraca did not immediately return a call or email for comment.

Last week, Lautenberg endorsed Healy in his reelection bid.

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