Municipal Candidates Out-Spend Candidates for New Jersey Legislative Races
Campaign financing going up and up across N.J.:
New Jersey Candidates for municipal office have more than doubled their campaign spending over a decade, according to a report issued this month by the state Election Law Enforcement Commission.
The report, titled "Local Campaign Financing: An Analysis of Trends in Communities Large and Small," also said municipal candidates spent more money in the past decade to get elected than those seeking state legislative offices. Democrats sending money from one county to another to help local candidates -- a practice called "wheeling"-- outspent the Republicans statewide by a 3-1 ratio.
"That money exerts a great deal of influence, especially in the choice of candidates," said Jerry Cantrell of Randolph, president of the tax reform group The Silver Brigade. "It's absurd to spend $50,000 to win a post that pays $5,000 a year. It does not make any sense. Accepting money from lobbyists and consultants creates conflicts."
The most benign reason people make campaign contributions is that they donate because the candidate shares their views or that they trust him or her. But donors also give because they may hope to obtain a government job or contract if the candidate they support wins the election. Some may contribute hoping that their donation will provide access to the officeholder, thereby creating a favorable climate for discussing important issues.
The ELEC report acknowledged the problem of local corruption: "As has become increasingly apparent, New Jersey has been experiencing its share of corruption," the report said. "In the last three years alone, over 80 public officials have been indicted and/or charged with corruption, many of them municipal employees or officeholders."
New Jersey Campaign Finance
New Jersey Candidates for municipal office have more than doubled their campaign spending over a decade, according to a report issued this month by the state Election Law Enforcement Commission.
The report, titled "Local Campaign Financing: An Analysis of Trends in Communities Large and Small," also said municipal candidates spent more money in the past decade to get elected than those seeking state legislative offices. Democrats sending money from one county to another to help local candidates -- a practice called "wheeling"-- outspent the Republicans statewide by a 3-1 ratio.
"That money exerts a great deal of influence, especially in the choice of candidates," said Jerry Cantrell of Randolph, president of the tax reform group The Silver Brigade. "It's absurd to spend $50,000 to win a post that pays $5,000 a year. It does not make any sense. Accepting money from lobbyists and consultants creates conflicts."
The most benign reason people make campaign contributions is that they donate because the candidate shares their views or that they trust him or her. But donors also give because they may hope to obtain a government job or contract if the candidate they support wins the election. Some may contribute hoping that their donation will provide access to the officeholder, thereby creating a favorable climate for discussing important issues.
The ELEC report acknowledged the problem of local corruption: "As has become increasingly apparent, New Jersey has been experiencing its share of corruption," the report said. "In the last three years alone, over 80 public officials have been indicted and/or charged with corruption, many of them municipal employees or officeholders."
New Jersey Campaign Finance
