LAYTON TO BROWN: "WHO ASKED FOR THE MONEY?"

      Burlington County Republican Chairman Bill Layton today called on Evesham Township Council member and Democrat freeholder candidate Chris Brown to reveal who solicited campaign contributions from a township vendor for Brown’s freeholder campaign. 

      “Brown has stoutly defended his acceptance of some $9,000 from an engineering firm he voted to hire and he should now reveal the circumstances surrounding this contribution and how it was sought,” Layton said. 

      “Did Brown pick up the telephone and make the solicitation call himself, or did he try to remain one step removed by passing the task on to his county chairman, or someone else altogether?” Layton asked.   “Did Brown or someone on his behalf seek campaign contributions by working off a list of firms holding township contracts?  How many calls were made and how many people were involved in placing them?  Were the calls placed from township offices?  Were any promises made to any potential contributors?” 

      “While Chris Brown has attempted to make the case that he violated no law or ordinance in accepting the money, the fact remains that his freeholder campaign benefited from a contribution made by a firm he voted to hire,” Layton said.  “Brown may be entitled to his own opinion, but he is not entitled to his own facts.” 

      The Republican chairman has filed an ethics complaint against Brown, charging that he accepted the contribution in violation of the township’s ordinance banning so-called pay to play --- the awarding of public contracts to firms which make contributions to a candidate or a candidate’s party.  

      “First, he claimed that his freeholder campaign was not covered by the ordinance; then he cited an attorney’s opinion that the ordinance wasn’t even in effect at the time the contributions was made, and later contended he wasn’t covered by the ordinance at all,” Layton said.  “Why the ever-changing explanations?” 

       “Brown should come forward and reveal all the circumstances surrounding the contribution,” Layton said.  “Anything less can only be construed as an effort to hide from the public how he and his campaign raise money.”