BurlCo GOP Chair Calls on Schmidt to Join Ethics Complaint

Burlington County Republican chairman Bill Layton today called on Evesham Township Councilman Mike Schmidt to join in the ethics complaint Layton filed against Councilman Chris Brown alleging violations of the township’s ordinance banning the practice of pay to play. 

         “The most direct way to secure the information and settle the issue once and for all is through the ethics complaint I have filed with the state,” Layton said.  “I couldn’t agree more with Councilman Schmidt’s observation that no reasonable person would have left the council meeting at which the ordinance was approved last year and not thought it was the law.”

         Brown has attempted to explain his receipt of more than $9,000 in contributions from the firm by arguing the ordinance does not apply to his campaign for Freeholder.

         Later, Layton said, a newly-hired township attorney said the law was not in effect until August of this year because it hadn’t been filed with the Secretary of State’s office in Trenton, even though the state office disputed that opinion and said, from their point of view, the ordinance was operative upon its adoption last year.

         “It is apparent from the public comments by Councilman Schmidt that he is troubled by the circumstances surrounding the contributions that Councilman Brown solicited and accepted, and is concerned that a violation may have occurred, and wants a further, in-depth review of the entire matter,” Layton said.  “He obviously feels the residents and taxpayers of Evesham Township deserve a fuller explanation for what has occurred.  He is absolutely right.” 

         “The scramble by Chris Brown to justify accepting the contributions is a lame attempt to avoid being caught in a violation of the law --- either in fact or in spirit --- he voted to implement,” Layton said.  “The attorney’s opinion notwithstanding, he is not the final authority on the issue.  That is best left to the appropriate state panel and I urge Councilman Schmidt to join in my effort to resolve the matter.”