Blandina to Republicans: We're keeping the money
Local GOP calls on Dems to return $50K in Lynch contributions
BY COLLEEN LUTOLF
Staff Writer

"We'll return our money back to John Lynch when they return their money back to Treffinger." - Michael Blandina Democratic Municipal chairman

Local Republicans are calling on Brick Democrats to return contributions they received two years ago from a political action committee headed by a disgraced former state senator who has admitted recently to taking a bribe. But Democratic leaders are scoffing at the request.

"This would make a statement for all the residents of Brick Township that as Republicans and Democrats, we will not stand for business as usual and anything that even is perceived as wrong by the public will not continue," Township Council President Anthony Matthews stated in a press release sent out Sept. 27 by the Brick Township Republican Club. "To keep tainted money is obviously wrong and therefore I am calling on Mike Blandina ... to return those contributions."

"Absolutely not," said Blan-dina, the local Democrats' municipal chairman. "They're including money given to the Ocean County Democrats. We'll return the money back to John Lynch when they return their money back to [James] Treffinger."

"To keep tainted money is obviously wrong." - Anthony Matthews Township Council president

Treffinger, a former Essex County executive and former front-running Republican for the 2004 U.S. Senate race, pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges in May 2003. Treffinger made campaign contributions to the Ocean County Republicans in the early 2000s.

"We're looking at direct donations given to Brick Pride according to The [Newark] Star-Ledger and The New York Times," Matthews responded Monday. "So if he wants to compare the two, that's his choice."

Council Vice President Stephen C. Acropolis stated the local Democrats should return the $50,000 in donations or give it to the charity of their choice.

"The GOP feels that any money donated from Lynch is tainted money that was received by ill-gotten means," the release states.

Lynch recently pleaded guilty to tax evasion and mail fraud and admitted to taking a $25,000 bribe from a South Brunswick sand dredging company looking to expand its business.

Lynch's political action committee, New Directions Through Responsible Leadership, has provided Democrats running for office throughout the state with hundreds of thousands of campaign donations.

Brick Pride, the local Democrats' political action committee, received an $8,500 contribution from New Directions on May 2, 2003, according to state Election Law Enforcement Commission records. A $5,000 contribution was received by New Directions a little over a year later on April 26, 2004.

New Directions gave Ocean County Democrats $32,000 in 2003.

The Ocean County Democratic Finance Committee funneled $37,000 into Brick Pride in 2003, although county committees usually contribute to local races.

"It isn't $50,000," Blandina said. "They're using the same amount of money in Dover Township against [Mayor] Paul Brush. They can't use the same $50,000 in every town they choose to. It just doesn't add up."

Dover Republicans issued a press release Sept. 19 calling for Brush to return a "tainted" $65,000 to Lynch.

Matthews also responded to Blandina's statement that the $50,000 can't cover donations given to both Dover and Brick Democrats.

"I'd have to sit down and see what the numbers total, but the idea is that they allegedly used their influences to grant variances for their personal gain," Matthews said.

Right around the time New Directions donated money to Brick Democrats, the Planning Board, which comprises members appointed by Democratic Mayor Joseph C. Scarpelli, granted variances for the Parkway-70 Plaza project on Route 70. The property owners, JSM at Brick LLC, is a pairing of Lynch and land developer Jack Morris.

"They ought to start talking facts and truth about things instead of distortions, spreading rumors and innuendo," Blandina said.

He suggested Acropolis and Matthews resign and become political leaders like George W. Bush's top political strategist "Karl Rove or [local GOP campaign manager] Allan Cartine" if they want to "play politics 365 days a year."

Republicans throughout the state are calling on Democrats to return contributions from Lynch's New Leadership PAC.

None of them have returned any money, although Parsippany Mayor Michael Luther, a Democrat, said he would return $7,200, according to published reports.