NEWS FROM THE
11TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATIC TICKET

www.villapianoforsenate.com
www.napolitaniandpirnatforassembly.com  

11TH DISTRICT DEMS:  LATEST CORRUPTION ARRESTS PROVE NEED fOR 'ZERO TOLERANCE' PLAN TO END PUBLIC CORRUPTION

Team Calls for Immediate Suspension of Arrested Officials

OCEAN TWP. - The 11th District Democratic ticket of John A. Villapiano, John P. Napolitani, Sr., and John Pirnat today said the latest series of FBI arrests of public officials charged with bribery in conjunction with their office proves the need for a comprehensive "zero tolerance" plan to end public corruption.

Villapiano, Napolitani, and Pirnat also called for an immediate suspension - without pay and privileges - from public office for all of the arrested officials.  According to the candidates, this suspension would preserve the officials' constitutional right to be considered innocent until proven guilty, while protecting the public's interests by prohibiting the arrested officials from being able to vote on legislation or conduct any other government business.

"We have an epidemic of corruption in this state, and it is costing the people of New Jersey dearly," said Villapiano, the 11th District Democratic Senate candidate.  "The cure is a combination of forceful advocacy for change and zero tolerance anti-corruption laws.  We can no longer afford to turn a blind or lenient eye to these reprehensible transgressions."

Villapiano, Napolitani, and Pirnat are in the final stages of developing a multifaceted plan that would do much to put a permanent stop to the rampant corruption plaguing the state.  The plan, which they expect to unveil within the next two weeks, focuses on strengthening several recently enacted ethics laws, improving financial disclosure requirements for public officials, and ending the practice of pay-to-play at all levels of government.  One specific aspect of the plan will push to eliminate no-bid contracts at all levels of government.  Another will look to strengthen recently enacted legislation that imposes mandatory imprisonment and loss of pension for public officials convicted of corruption, expanding the scope of penalties to include a mandatory forfeiture of office and the loss of all public pensions, medical benefits, and contracts for convicted officials.

"This hidden 'corruption tax' is ruining our state - forcing families out of New Jersey and putting honest people out of business," said Pirnat, an 11th District Democratic Assembly candidate.   "Corrupt officials at all levels of government need to hear a clear, simple message:  If you are found guilty, you will lose your medical benefits, your pensions, and you will go to jail."

"We can no longer afford the luxury of compromise when it comes to combating public corruption," said Napolitani, an 11th District Democratic Assembly candidate.  "We truly need to have a zero-tolerance policy if we are to have any hope of cutting the entrenched core of corruption out of our state, county, and local governments, once and for all."

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