Mr. Cammarano likes talking about his education and his expertise as an election lawyer, but this post from Hoboken411 from noted community activist “estevens” paints a scary picture of Mr. Cammarano’s “expertise” and disregard for the law.
estevens – May 21st 2009 – 17:09:39 |
An experienced attorney, eh? The Genova, Burns & Vernoia website lists Peter J. Cammarano, III, as an Associate in the firm’s Newark, New Jersey office, who practices Labor & Employment Law, and Election Law. Just how good is he at this election law business?In 2007, Cammarano created a Continuing Political Committee – Hoboken Democrats for Hudson County (HDHC) – which served largely to pass $28K through to candidates Russo, Campos, Giacchi, and Tremitiedi. Cammarano was listed as chairperson for HDHC in ELEC filings.
In the ELEC Compliance Manual for Candidates, it is stated quite clearly that “A candidate cannot, during the existence of his/her candidate committee or joint candidates committee, or while that candidate is holding office, establish, authorize the establishment of, maintain, or participate directly or indirectly in the management or control of any political committee or continuing political committee.” This is with the basics on page 5, not hidden in fine print on page 83.
On page ONE of the same document, under ELEC’s definition of candidate, it is stated that “If elected to office, the officeholder remains a candidate throughout the period of time the office is held.”
In the Compliance Manual for CPCs, page 28 states again -in bold print – “No candidate can establish, authorize the establishment of, maintain or participate directly or indirectly in the management or control of any CPC.”
On page 4 of the committee’s D-4 filing with ELEC – the Registration Statement and Designation of Organizational Depository – question #10 asks “Has any New Jersey candidate (other than a federal candidate) established, authorized the establishment of, maintained or participated directly or indirectly in the management or control of this continuing political committee, or will any New Jersey candidate do so in the future?” The answer “No” is checked off.
On page 5 of the D-4, Cammarano signs his name under the statement “I certify that the statements on this document are true and correct. I further certify that no candidate has established, authorized the establishment of, maintained or participated directly or indirectly in the management or control of the continuing political committee, and no candidate shall be permitted to do so during the existence of the continuing political committee. I am aware that if any of the statements are willfully false, I am subject to punishment.
http://www.divshare.com/download/7450517-d31
I grind on. From the Jersey Journal, 2/29/2008: 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.
That violates state election law, the head of ELEC said. “An elected official cannot in any way be involved in a CPC, let alone chair it,” said ELEC Executive Director Fred Herrmann.
Now, these may sound like trifling details to you and you are unlikely to lose sleep over this. The fact remains that Cammarano is an ELECTION lawyer whose firm sends him around the state to advise political committees on these sorts of matters. If an amateur like me can understand this, surely an “experienced lawyer” should be able to. Or did he understand and simply choose not to comply?
