Essex Freeholder charged with ballot fraud in wife's 2007 Senate campaign
By Max Pizarro | December 1st, 2009 - 1:45pm
Essex County Freeholder Samuel Gonzalez, the husband of State Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Newark)
Essex County Freeholder Samuel Gonzalez has been charged with ballot fraud in the case of his wife's 2007 senate campaign, according to state Attorney General Anne Milgram.
Five more people, including Gonzalez, husband of Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Newark), were indicted today for election fraud in connection with absentee ballots they collected and submitted as workers for Ruiz’s 2007 campaign, Milgram said.
"I have full confidence in Samuel, my husband, as a long standing public servant," Ruiz said in a statement. "I know during the campaign he conducted himself in an absolutely appropriate and professional fashion. I am confident as this process plays out that this conclusion will be reached. I continue as State Senator, to work with all agencies involved to reach a conclusion to the situation, while I continue to serve the citizens of my district."
Milgram's office charged an additional five campaign workers in four prior indictments connected with Ruiz's 2007 senate campaign. Today's indictment charges Gonzalez, 39, and Joaquin Caceres, 50, both of Newark, with tampering with documentation for absentee ballots. An Essex County freeholder and chairman of the Newark Public Schools Advisory Board, Gonzalez also serves as an aide to Newark City Councilman Anibal Ramos. "I've known Samuel Gonzalez for several years and he has been a valuable member of my office since I became Councilman," Ramos said in a statement. "I support him through this difficult time and look forward to a speedy resolution to this matter." Caceres is a senior program development specialist on the Newark mayor’s staff. Today's indictment also charges Jonathon Kowalski, 32, of Newark, John Fernandez, 58, of Belleville, and Edwin Cruz, 48, of Newark. Kowalski works in fund-raising at the North Ward Center, and Cruz and Fernandez both work for the Essex County Department of Economic Development. According to the release from the Attorney General's Office, each of the five defendants is charged with conspiracy (2 “We charge that these campaign workers fraudulently submitted absentee ballots on behalf of residents who never received the ballots or had an opportunity to cast their votes,” said Attorney General Milgram. “Election fraud is a serious crime, particularly when voters are disenfranchised.”
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He used to work for Joe
He used to work for Joe D....his wife works for Joe D. I think it is time for reform is Essex County. Adubato and Joe D must GO!
Why
Why is it that everyday seems to bring a new story and article about the rampant pathological corruption that exists in NJ? From local municipalities to state government.Billions have been taken from the government coffers without retribution. Government agencies that are supposed to be watchdogs fail the electorate of this state. there is the SCI, the comptroller, the Ispector general and a thousand attorneys in the AG's office. Yet nothing ever seems to be accomplished
come on
now we have entire families of corrupt pols feeding from the public trough. Unreal
OF COURSE JOE D IS NOT GOING
OF COURSE JOE D IS NOT GOING TO MAKE GONZALES RESIGN HIS AFRAID GONZALES MIGHT TELL EVERYONE OF JOE D AFFAIR WITH TERESA. JOE D KNOWS DEEP INSIDE HIS HAPPY GONZALES IS GETTING JAM . IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR HIM TO KEEP B@@GING GONZALES WIFE. AND BELEIVE ME THEIR NOT RUMORS. IT TRUE . SHAME ON U JOE D.
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