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Assemblyman Steve Corodemus
By bguhlCORODEMUS: TURNPIKE AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM POST FOR ETHICS VIOLATION
REPORTS INDICATE CHAIRMAN ACCEPTED FREE FLIGHTS ON CONTRACTOR'S PRIVATE AIRPLANEJuly 19, 2006
Assemblyman Steve Corodemus/732-708-0900
Assembly Republican Office/609-292-5339
CORODEMUS: TURNPIKE AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM POST FOR ETHICS VIOLATION
REPORTS INDICATE CHAIRMAN ACCEPTED FREE FLIGHTS ON CONTRACTOR'S PRIVATE AIRPLANE
Responding to a report this morning in The Record of Hackensack, Assemblyman Steve Corodemus today said that New Jersey Turnpike Authority Chairman Joseph Simunovich should be removed from his post if it is confirmed that he accepted free flights for him and his family on a private jet belonging to the one of the highway's biggest contractors.
"There could not be a more clear example of an ethical violation than for a person who votes on public contracts to accept gifts or services from the individuals who hold those contracts," said Corodemus, R-Monmouth. "If Governor Corzine is truly committed to higher ethical standards he should take steps to remove the chairman from this post."
The Record today reported that the State Ethics Commission has "determined that there are indications" New Jersey Turnpike Authority Chairman Joseph Simunovich violated ethics laws when he took free trips on an aircraft owned in part by Joseph M Sanzari and his company.
According to the story, Sanzari owns Joseph M. Sanzari Construction Inc., which has won at least $52 million in turnpike jobs since 2004, making him the sixth-largest contractor over that time. Simunovich has voted on those contracts.
"New Jersey residents already look at state government with distrust," Corodemus concluded. "Now every commuter will be wondering where every dollar paid to the Turnpike authority is being spent."
"If the chairman knew this was inappropriate, then clearly he has a disregard for our state's ethics guidelines," Corodemus said. "If he was unaware that this was unethical, then clearly he just has very poor judgment. Either way, he should be removed from this job."
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