Transparency is among promises Morristown council candidate Chris Russo has made on the campaign trail
But with the Nov. 7 election only days away, the Democrat has not filed state-mandated finance reports that would let voters know who has contributed to his bid for the Fourth Ward seat.
Russo missed filing deadlines on Oct. 10 and Oct. 27, 2023, according to records of the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.
UPDATE: On Saturday, Russo conceded there was a lot of “confusion” in his camp and blamed his treasurer, Howard Bielski.
“We’re trying to figure out what was going on…I’ve been sending him everything, every time I write a check… Nothing’s below-board. We’re hoping to get (reports) filed in a day now,” Russo said.
Repeated calls Bielski, who also served as treasurer for Mayor Tim Dougherty’s most recent campaign, have not been returned.
Morristown Green also reached out to Dougherty, who has hosted a pair of Russo fundraisers where tickets and sponsorships ranged from $150 to $1,000. He has not responded.
The maximum fine for failure to file campaign reports is $9,800.
Morristown Green first reported Russo’s absent filings on Oct. 27.
Reports filed by Russo’s Republican opponent, Bruce Meringolo, show he has raised almost $9,000.
Much of that was from himself and his wife, including in-kind contributions. Other major donors were the Morristown Republican Committee ($1,500) and the county GOP ($500).
Morristown Green also reached out to Meringolo, the former mayor of Long Hill, for comment.
At a League of Women Voters candidates forum last month, Russo stated: “I’ll always be accessible, and I will always be transparent with everyone.”
While declining to discuss individual candidates, ELEC Acting Director Joe Donohue said campaign filings serve a vital function for the electorate.
“For five decades, New Jersey law has entitled voters to know where candidates get money for their campaigns and how they spend it. Disclosure reports filed with our agency fosters this public awareness and hopefully builds trust in the candidates who comply. It also helps discourage corrupt use of campaign finances,” Donohue said.
ELEC requires candidates for primaries and general elections to file detailed reports if their spending exceeds $5,800, and all individual contributions exceeding $200 must be reported, Donohue said.
Although it’s never happened, successful candidates can be removed from office by ELEC for egregious campaign reporting violations, according to the commission.
‘PRETTY DAMNING’
Morristown Third Ward Councilman Stefan Armington, helped lead a voter referendum to enact a municipal pay-to-play ordinance in 2008. It was broadened in 2019 to restrict political donors from seeking lucrative redevelopment contracts in town.
But controversial new state “reforms” have weakened local pay to play laws, Armington said, leaving candidates’ campaign reports as the last place where the public can see who is attempting to influence whom.
“For someone who is suggesting they are transparent…not being transparent at all in the election process is pretty damning,” said Armington, a Democrat who is stepping down after three terms.
Russo, who serves on the planning board, defeated Council President Sandi Mayer in the June Democratic primary. For that race, Russo filed a report asserting he would not exceed the $5,800 threshold that triggers more filings.
The Fourth Ward is Morristown’s only contested council election this year. It’s become a hot one, since Morristown Green reported Morristown Medical Center is contemplating what Armington described as “the biggest redevelopment project in the history of Morristown,” in the ward.
Residents from two neighborhoods near the hospital grilled both candidates about the project at a library forum, pressing Russo for his views on development and his ties to Dougherty.
“I will not be a rubber stamp for the mayor,” Russo told them.
Meringolo, meanwhile, has declined to acknowledge Joe Biden as winner of the 2020 presidential election.
Some residents have mounted a write-in campaign for Mayer, a lame-duck since losing to Russo by 38 votes in the primary.
Political futures don’t necessarily ride on transparent filings.
Dougherty and his then-treasurer ran afoul of ELEC for campaign reporting irregularities in his first mayoral campaign, in 2009.
ELEC said infractions in that primary and general election included failure to file, late filing (seven years late), and filing of incomplete donor information, and in 2018 the commission got around to fining Dougherty $4,790. The mayor now is serving his fourth term.
Apparently Morristown doesn’t care if you break the rules. Don’t keep voting in the Mayor & his cronies and expect anything different to happen. They have destroyed the Town and will continue to self serve. BUT…don’t worry, you wont hear a leaf blower or see a garbage bag not in a can-the important issues these days
Kevin, you said Dougherty and his then-treasurer ran afoul of ELEC for campaign reporting irregularities in his first mayoral campaign, in 2009. I believe in a 2005 primary reporting irregularity he forgot to list the $1,000 contribution from attorney Matthew O’Donnell. A reporter from the Star Ledger questioned O’Donnell in 2007 when he did not file his disclosure forms with the town when he became the planning board attorney.