Cammarano under review

Friday February 29, 2008, Jersey Journal

Hoboken Councilman-at-large Peter Cammarano is currently under review by the state Election Law Enforcement Commission for what some allege is improper activity in this past June's state Senate, Assembly and Hoboken municipal elections.

Eric Kurta, a Hoboken resident and president of the reform group People for Open Government, filed the complaint against Cammarano and received a letter from ELEC stating it is opening a review to determine if Cammarano violated election law as the chairman of Hoboken Democrats for Hudson County.

Hoboken Democrats for Hudson County was a continuing political committee (CPC) formed last April 18 in alliance with Brian Stack's Democrats for Hudson County. Cammarano served as the chair of the CPC while in office as councilman-at-large, an action which some say violates election law.

"An elected official cannot in any way be involved in a CPC, let alone chair it," said ELEC executive director Fred Herrmann, who said he cannot comment specifically on Cammarano's case.

Hoboken Democrats for Hudson County raised $28,000 for City Council candidates Michael Russo, Richard Tremetiedi, Chris Campos and Nino Giacchi, and supported Stack for Senate, and Ruben Ramos and Caridad Rodriguez for Assembly. The money was spent on campaign material, mail and newspaper advertisements, Cammarano said.

Cammarano, who is an election lawyer, says he did not violate election law, as he understands it. "This is just a political hatchet job that an enemy of mine is trying to accomplish by using ELEC," said Cammarano.

"I don't have a political agenda; I'm not working with anyone who's running for office," said Kurta. However, Kurta added that he privately supported Carol Marsh and Dawn Zimmer in the municipal election; he also personally donated a small amount of money to Zimmer's campaign.

People for Open Government, on which 2nd Ward Councilwoman Beth Mason used to sit as a board member, is a non-partisan non-profit that does not support any party or candidate, said Kurta.

Comments from Edmecka.com:

New Jersey Elect Filings "Hoboken Democrats for Hudson County" 04/18/2007 - 08/20/2007


Source: The Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC)