Karcher Calls on Freeholder Board to Pass Comprehensive Pay-to-Play Ban

KARCHER CALLS ON FREEHOLDER BOARD TO PASS COMPREHENSIVE PAY-TO-PLAY BAN

Measure Should Prohibit Developers and Re-developers from Corrupt Practice

FREEHOLD - Senator Ellen Karcher today called on Monmouth County Freeholders to approve a comprehensive prohibition on pay-to-play, which includes developers and re-developers, and begins to restore taxpayers' faith in their county government.

"The Freeholder Board has an opportunity to push forward on ethics reform and take a very real stand against one of the biggest threats to the integrity of government in New Jersey," said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer, a leading advocate in the State Legislature for greater public transparency and ethics reform. "I think anything short of a complete ban on pay-to-play, which also prohibits developers from buying political influence with campaign contributions, is a lost opportunity."

Senator Karcher noted that much of the corruption which has plagued Monmouth County in recent years has been related to land deals with developers seeking the right to build on a specific piece of property. While serving as a Marlboro Councilwoman, the Senator worked undercover with the FBI to unveil massive bribery and abuse by developers in her hometown.

"One of our most precious resources in Monmouth County is our remaining open space," said Senator Karcher. "However, our home county is under constant development pressure, probably moreso than anywhere else in the State. We need to ensure that development is done appropriately, and that developers aren't able to buy favors with campaign cash."

Senator Karcher added that the redevelopment clause of a comprehensive ban would protect home owners from eminent domain abuse from any government official seeking to use the power of condemnation to pay back a political donor.

Senator Karcher sponsored the original bill allowing local and county government to go beyond the limits of a weaker Statewide ban on pay-to-play implemented in 2005. At the time, the Senator said that she hoped that advances on the local and county level would push the State to adopt stricter pay-to-play prohibitions.

"I think a comprehensive pay-to-play ban in Monmouth would go a long way to helping our efforts in the Statehouse to promote a tougher Statewide ban," said Senator Karcher. "If the county that gave us Operation Bid Rig can strike such a strong blow for good government, I think that would set the stage for stronger pay-to-play restrictions for the rest of New Jersey. I will continue to fight for tougher ethics controls in the Legislature no matter what, but I hope my home county can deliver, and stand as an example for the rest of the State to follow on banning pay-to-play."