New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission

Last updated

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) is an independent governmental agency that is responsible for monitoring the integrity of campaign finances in elections in New Jersey. The Commission was established in 1973. Candidates for all public elections in New Jersey are required to file contribution and expenditure reports. ELEC also administers public financing for those running in primary or general elections for Governor of New Jersey. [1] The Commission administers aspects of New Jersey's "pay-to-play" laws, registration of governmental affairs agents (lobbyists), and quarterly disclosure of lobbying activity, and requires personal financial disclosure statements for certain candidates.

The original four members appointed by Governor William T. Cahill in 1973 were two Republicans: former Rep. Florence Dwyer of Elizabeth and Frank Reiche, a Princeton attorney; and two Democrats: Sidney Goldmann, a former presiding judge of the state appellate court and former Camden County Judge Bartholomew Sheehan. [2]

Normally composed of four members, two Democrats and two Republicans, selected by the Governor of New Jersey, the commission has had a vacant seat since November 2011, the second year of the governorship of Chris Christie. [3] [4] By 2016, the Commission fell to two members and thus, lacked a quorum to issue fines, however, in March 2017, the commission was restored to four members. [5]

Under the Election Transparency Act, passed in March 2023, Governor Phil Murphy was allowed to appoint four commissioners, two of which will serve two-year terms and two of which will serve three-year terms, after which they revert to the normal six-year term length. Additionally, he was able to make these appointments without needing them to be confirmed by the state Senate on a one-time basis. The three commissioners at the time; Eric H. Jaso (R), Chairman; Stephen M. Holden (D), Commissioner; and Marguerite T. Simon (D), Commissioner; all resigned in protest. On June 15, 2023, Murphy named Thomas H. Prol (as chairman, D), former Assemblyman Ryan Peters (R), Clark Municipal Prosecutor Jon-Henry Barr (R), and former Senior Deputy Attorney General Norma Evans (D) to serve on the panel. [6]

Unlike most of the commissioners who served over the last fifty years, not a single member was a former judge, as the Commission operates as an administrative court of sorts. These commissioners then elect the Executive Director, which has been Joe Donohue since November 1, 2023.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supreme Court of New Jersey</span> Highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey

The Supreme Court of New Jersey is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, the Supreme Court of New Jersey is the final judicial authority on all cases in the state court system, including cases challenging the validity of state laws under the state constitution. It has the sole authority to prescribe and amend court rules and regulate the practice of law, and it is the arbiter and overseer of the decennial legislative redistricting. One of its former members, William J. Brennan Jr., became an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Kean Jr.</span> American politician (born 1968)

Thomas Howard Kean Jr. is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from New Jersey's 7th congressional district since 2023. He represented New Jersey's 21st legislative district in the New Jersey Senate from 2003 to 2022, serving as minority leader from 2008 to 2022. A member of the Republican Party, Kean is the son of former New Jersey governor Thomas Kean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara Buono</span> American politician

Barbara A. Buono is an American politician who served in the New Jersey Senate from 2002 to 2014, where she represented the 18th Legislative District. She served from 2010 to 2012 as the Majority Leader in the Senate, succeeding Stephen Sweeney, and was succeeded by Loretta Weinberg. She is a member of the Democratic Party and was the Democratic nominee for Governor of New Jersey in the 2013 general election, which she lost to Republican incumbent Chris Christie.

Raymond J. Lesniak is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey State Senate from 1983 to 2018, where he represented the 20th Legislative District. Before entering New Jersey's upper house, the Senate, Lesniak served in the General Assembly from 1978 to 1983. Lesniak was once considered a major power broker in the Democratic Party, having served as New Jersey Democratic State Chairman, also serving as New Jersey Chair for Clinton/Gore in 1996 and as a major fundraiser for Gore/Lieberman in 2000. Lesniak finished a distant fourth place as a candidate for Governor of New Jersey in the 2017 election.

Nicholas Paul Scutari is an American politician and attorney who has served as the 115th president of the New Jersey Senate since 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, he has held a Senate seat since 2004, representing the 22nd legislative district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheila Oliver</span> American politician (1952–2023)

Sheila Yvette Oliver was an American politician who served as the second lieutenant governor of New Jersey from 2018 until her death in 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Oliver was the first Black woman to serve as lieutenant governor of New Jersey and was the first woman of color elected to statewide office in New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff</span>

Andrew P. Sidamon-Eristoff is an American Republican Party lawyer, politician and government official from New York City who served as New Jersey State Treasurer under Governor Chris Christie from January 2010 until his resignation in July 2015. He previously served as Commissioner of Tax and Finance under New York State Governor George E. Pataki from September 2003 until November 2006 and Commissioner of Finance for the City of New York under Mayor Rudolph Giuliani from 1999 to 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tahesha Way</span> American politician

Tahesha Leila Way is an American politician, lawyer, and judge from New Jersey. A member of the Democratic Party, she has served as the state's third lieutenant governor since 2023, and as its 34th secretary of State since 2018. She was previously a member and director of the Board of Chosen Freeholders in Passaic County, New Jersey.

William "Pat" Schuber is an American Republican Party politician who served as Mayor of Bogota, represented the 38th legislative district in the New Jersey General Assembly and served 12 years as the Bergen County Executive

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim Guadagno</span> Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey from 2010 to 2018

Kimberly Ann Guadagno is an American lawyer and politician who served as the first lieutenant governor and 33rd secretary of state of New Jersey from 2010 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Lee lane closure scandal</span> Scandal involving the closure of lanes leading to the George Washington Bridge

The Fort Lee lane closure scandal, better known as Bridgegate, was a political scandal in the U.S. state of New Jersey in 2013 and 2014. It involved a staff member and political appointees of then-governor Chris Christie colluding to create traffic jams in Fort Lee, New Jersey by closing lanes at the main toll plaza for the upper level of the George Washington Bridge.

David Wildstein is an American businessman, Republican Party politician, political blogger, and the founder of the New Jersey political news website Politicker Network. A former mayor of Livingston, New Jersey, he served as a senior official in the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey during the administration of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie until 2013, when Wildstein resigned in the midst of a scandal involving traffic lanes closures. On May 1, 2015, he pleaded guilty to two federal felony counts of conspiracy as part of a plea agreement, but his conviction was later overturned.

Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr., widely known as Joe D., has been the County Executive of Essex County, New Jersey since 2003.

Walter Francis Timpone is a former Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, having been sworn on May 2, 2016. He was nominated to the Supreme Court by Governor Chris Christie and confirmed by the New Jersey Senate in April 2016. He resigned on August 31, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 New Jersey gubernatorial election</span>

The 2021 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 2021 to elect the governor of New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 United States Senate election in New Jersey</span>

The 2024 United States Senate election in New Jersey will be held on November 5, 2024, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of New Jersey. Primary elections will take place on June 4, 2024. The seat is currently held by Democrat Bob Menendez, who was appointed to the Senate in January 2006 and won his first full term the same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey</span>

The 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey were held on November 8, 2022, to elect the 12 U.S. representatives from the state of New Jersey, one from each of the state's 12 congressional districts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2025 New Jersey gubernatorial election</span> Election for Governor of New Jersey

The 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 4, 2025, to elect the governor of New Jersey. Incumbent Democratic Governor Phil Murphy is term-limited and ineligible to seek a third consecutive term. Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican nominee for governor in 2021, has stated he intends to run again.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Menendez</span> American lawyer and politician (born 1985)

Robert Jacobsen Menendez Jr. is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for New Jersey's 8th congressional district since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party and son of U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, he was a commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey from 2021 to 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey</span>

The 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey will be held on November 5, 2024, to elect the twelve U.S. representatives from the State of New Jersey, one from all twelve of the state's congressional districts. The elections will coincide with the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections.

References

  1. ↑ About ELEC, New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. Accessed June 15, 2010.
  2. ↑ Wildstein, David (June 2023). "ELEC's first commissioners were a former congresswoman, a Princeton GOP leader, and two retired judges". NJglobe.com. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  3. ↑ "NJ campaign watchdog vacancy could impact DiVincenzo spending case". NJ.com. July 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Christie defangs watchdog to help Joe D on corruption charge - Moran". NJ.com. May 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  5. ↑ "N.J. election law commission back in business again". NJ.com. March 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  6. ↑ Wildstein, David (June 2023). "Murphy taps four new ELEC commissioners". NJglobe.com. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.