TRENTON -- The political establishment, according to the Greek philosopher Socrates, is like a large horse "by its size and laziness."

And the government, he went on, needed people to arouse and annoy it, like a gadfly does to a horse.

While rabble-rousers have been around for some time, the enactment five years ago of the state Open Public Records Act, OPRA, has given New Jersey's so-called "gadflies" even more ammunition.

"It's a vital tool," said Readington Township resident Don Baldwin.

Baldwin, 58, and fellow township resident Ed Dudzinski unearthed documents which detailed Readington paying a public relations firm $100,000 to release information about the township's attempt to purchase land surrounding Solberg Airport. Dudzinski has spent more than $1,500 on requested documents.

OPRA is just another way to dig deeper into an issue, said Baldwin.

"I see a red flag somewhere, and then through OPRA, I'm able to flush out the details or dismiss it," Baldwin said.

TRENTON — The state's Open Public Records Act helps the news media expose the doings of government and empowers residents to learn how and why their tax dollars are spent.

But it has also become a resource in political campaigns, as operatives look for records to prove allegations that an opponent held a no-show job, engaged in a shady business deal or received a favorable tax arrangement.

"OPRA may have had an unintended effect," said Carl Golden, who was press secretary for Govs. Thomas H. Kean and Christie Whitman. "It proved to be an absolute bonanza for opposition research people in political campaigns."

TRENTON — The political establishment, according to the Greek philosopher Socrates, is like a large horse "by its size and laziness."

And the government, he went on, needed people to arouse and annoy it, like a gadfly does to a horse.

While rabble-rousers have been around for some time, the enactment five years ago of the state Open Public Records Act, OPRA, has given New Jersey's gadflies even more ammunition.

"It's a vital tool," said Readington resident Don Baldwin.

Baldwin, 58, and Ed Dudzinski unearthed documents that detailed Readington paying a public relations firm $100,000 to release information about the township's attempt to purchase land surrounding Solberg Airport. Dudzinski has spent over $1,500 on requested documents.

OPRA is just another way to dig deeper into an issue, Baldwin said.

"I see a red flag somewhere, and then, through OPRA, I'm able to flush out the details or dismiss it," Baldwin said.

He has cut way back on his pain medication to an occasional dose of ibuprofen, his aides say. But he still tires easily, walks with a slight limp and shifts around in his chair to find the most comfortable position during long meetings.

He has relished having the time to sift through the finer grains of public policy, as exemplified last week by a spirited defense of his long-marinating plan to restructure the finances of New Jersey's toll roads. Still, his public appearances have been far fewer and more cursory, and he spends most days at his temporary quarters at the governor's mansion in Princeton, often awaiting visitors or doing arduous physical therapy.

TRENTON — Carl Golden knew there was trouble when the request came in.

Reporters wanted to see phone bills from lawmakers' offices, and Golden could easily surmise what would happen if the media got ahold of the records.

"There were some very interesting calls on some of the lines," Golden said in a recent interview, recalling a story from the mid-1970s, when he was a staffer for the Assembly Republicans.

The bills would show lawmakers making long distance calls to relatives, ringing up "Dial-A-Joke," even touching base with local bookies, all at taxpayers' expense. At the time, however, New Jersey was under a weak law governing access to public records, and lawmakers fought the request for months, buying time as they kept the information secret.

Golden, who would later serve as press secretary for Govs. Thomas Kean and Christie Whitman, and who still advises politicians on handling the media, said officials today could not duck such a request because of the tougher Open Public Records Act approved five years ago this week.

TRENTON — The political establishment, according to the Greek philosopher Socrates, is like a large horse "by its size and laziness."

And the government, he went on, needed people to arouse and annoy it, like a gadfly does to a horse.

While rabble-rousers have been around for some time, the enactment five years ago of the state Open Public Records Act, OPRA, has given New Jersey's so-called "gadflies" even more ammunition.

"It's a vital tool," said Readington Township resident Don Baldwin.

Baldwin, 58, and fellow township resident Ed Dudzinski unearthed documents which detailed Readington paying a public relations firm $100,000 to release information about the township's attempt to purchase land surrounding Solberg Airport. Dudzinski has spent over $1,500 on requested documents.

TRENTON — Carl Golden knew there was trouble when the request came in.

Reporters wanted to see phone bills from lawmakers' offices, and Golden could easily surmise what would happen if the media got ahold of the records.

"There were some very interesting calls on some of the lines," Golden said in a recent interview, recalling a story from the mid-1970s, when he was a staffer for the Assembly Republicans.

The bills would show lawmakers making long-distance calls to relatives, ringing up "Dial-A-Joke," even touching base with local bookies, all at taxpayers' expense. At the time, however, New Jersey was under a weak law governing access to public records, and lawmakers fought the request for months, buying time as they kept the information secret.

TRENTON — Requests for information made of state government under the Open Public Records Act between 2002 and 2006. More recent data is not yet available for all departments.

HOBOKEN - The first day of the new fiscal year began with three new City Council members - and a new council president and vice president.

The loudest cheers from the crowd of about 150 at yesterday's swearing-in ceremony at City Hall were reserved for the new members - Second Ward Councilwoman Elizabeth Mason, Fourth Ward Councilwoman Dawn Zimmer and Fifth Ward Councilman Peter Cunningham.

But applause also rang out as City Clerk Jimmy Farina swore in re-elected First Ward Councilwoman Theresa Castellano, Third Ward Councilman Michael Russo and Sixth Ward Councilman Angelo "Nino" Giacchi.

TRENTON — The Legislature is all for letting the people decide things when doing so is in the lawmakers' best interest, but at other times the people's will is a nuisance.

The Senate and the Assembly passed a measure headed for the November ballot that would, if approved, amend the state Constitution to mandate the remaining half of last year's sales tax hike be used for property tax relief.

That would happen without the signature of Gov. Corzine, who opposes the measure because it ties the hands of what the state can do with the money. Members of the Legislature want it because every seat in the Senate and Assembly is up in November and they need you to think they did something great. In reality, they can't think of a way to lower taxes and continue to kiss the feet of special interests.

Three questions arise: If the sales tax hike can be devoted to property tax relief, was there a need for the hike in the first place since relief wasn't the stated purpose? If there is real need for the penny hike beyond property tax relief, does that mean another increase is in the offing?