Kleinberg, Pernice & Morelli Applaud Passage of One of the Most Restrictive Pay-to-Play Provisions in New Jersey

Kleinberg, Pernice & Morelli Applaud Passage of One of the Most
Restrictive Pay-to-Play Provisions in New Jersey

Mayor Robert Kleinberg, Councilman Joe Pernice and Councilwoman Patti
Morelli today applauded passage of a new town ordinance that represents one of the strictest pay-to-play rules in New Jersey.

Kleinberg, Pernice and Morelli last week announced that would that they would voluntarily abide by the provisions of the ordinance before the law
goes into effect and challenged their Democratic opponents to follow
their lead to demonstrate their commitment to honest government.
However, Jonathon Hornik, LaRocca and Marder refused to renounce
accepting tainted money and also refused to return at least $1,500 in
contributions that had been wheeled to them in violation of the
proposed ordinance.

The new law outlaws the insidious practice of wheeling contributions
by preventing candidates from accepting political donations beyond a
$1,000 limit from county political parties, state political parties,
PACs, other candidate committees, and state legislative leadership
committees. The ordinance also prohibits developers and redevelopers
from making political contributions.

Kleinberg said, "This new law puts one more nail in the coffin of
political corruption in Marlboro. Our town will now be recognized
around the state for having one of the strictest – if not the
strictest – anti-corruption pay-to-play laws. This latest effort is
part of our ongoing initiative to restore honesty and integrity to
government and keep Marlboro moving forward. It is unfortunate that
our opponents want to turn back the clock to the old days of giving
developers and builders the ability to buy access and influence with
government officials. It is beyond me why any candidate for political
office in Marlboro would refuse to take a strong stand against
corruption."

Pernice said, "We are continuing to restore honesty and integrity to
government with this tough new anti-corruption law. I again urge our
opponents to follow our lead and support our effort to rid our
government of corrupting influences."

Morelli said, "In the battle against corruption, either you're for
clean government or your against it. Robert, Joe and I take pride in
enacting this new law and agreeing to abide by it before it was even
passed. That demonstrates our commitment to honest government. I'll
let our opponents' opposition to the law and their refusal to return
their tainted money speak for itself."

Kleinberg, Pernice and Morelli also said they will not accept
donations from candidate committees, legislative leadership
committees, PACS and county and state political parties in violation
of the ordinance. In addition, they will not accept contributions
from developers and redevelopers looking for land use approvals from
Marlboro Township.

In 2004, Kleinberg, Pernice and Morelli enacted what was then
considered New Jersey's toughest pay-to-play ordinance, which was
endorsed by Common Cause. The ordinance prohibited donations by
Township professionals to county political parties and PACs formed for
the purpose of assisting local candidates.