Written by
JOSHUA BERRY
For the Courier-Post
For the past several months, a group of concerned residents called South Jersey
Citizens has been trying to get pay-to-play reform passed in Gloucester
Township.
Since the beginning of this effort, Mayor Dave Mayer and his council have
stalled on this basic reform and have given every excuse they can find to
justify their inaction. Given these delays, citizens started a petition drive to
force the issue as have similar groups throughout New Jersey.
During the Oct. 12 township council meeting, a member of the public asked about the status of pay-to-play reform. Most of the people in attendance had assumed it was dead on arrival back in June when the mayor-council team started stalling and assumed they would continue to stall until after the election. Thus, Council President Glen Bianchini’s response caught those of us in attendance off guard. It’s dead. Not going to happen. No explanation, just a short, terse answer.
The government that boasted how they were leaders in transparency finally admitted what most of us knew all along. When it comes to the practice the Courier-Post referred to as “odious,” Mayer and the council have no intention of making reforms.
Is this arrogance or hubris or just plain greed? I don’t know. At the end of the day when they defend their track record, remember they choose to use government contracts as leverage to get campaign contributions from municipal vendors. They are not bashful or remorseful about it —they are proud of it and openly defend this practice claiming they have no other means to raise campaign funds.
To them, greed is not only good but it is also legal. They want to keep it that way and hope the people do not notice.
When asked about the reforms proposed by New Jersey Comptroller Matt Boxer to fix the fair and open process of contracting that is the staple of Gloucester Township governance, half of council was unaware of the report and the others dismissed it.
They use the fair and open process as the loophole to get around the existing state pay-to-play laws. Do you really think the mayor-council team is going to kill the goose that lays their golden egg by instituting another set of reforms? Of course not. They do not care how many of their fellow Democrats call for it or how many editorial boards demand it! How dare a mere citizen speak up and ask them to institute basic ethical government.
There are two ways Gloucester Township residents can force reforms. The first is to add your name to one of the pay-to-play petitions South Jersey Citizens is circulating, which will force the issue onto a ballot in 2012. Of course, when it is on the ballot, vote for it.
The second way is to vote in the coming election. Given their actions on pay to play and fair and open contracting, it is safe to assume Bianchini and council Vice President Orlando Mercado will not pass any kind of reform should they get re-elected.
Given his role in forming a pay-to-play political action committee called
“Gloucester Township Citizens for Government Reform,” it is also safe to assume
former councilman Sam Siler will also not support any kind of reform should he
be elected. A vote for them is a vote against good government.
Send a message to council and to politicians everywhere: Gloucester Township is
no longer for sale. If those currently in office or seeking office will not put
the people’s best interest before their party’s self interest, vote for
candidates who will.
There are six others seeking a seat on council from both political parties as well as an independent. Vote against anyone who does not openly support pay-to-play bans and an end to the so-called “fair and open” process of contracting. Vote against anyone who openly supports the influence of corporate money on your government.
Let your voice be heard. Demand ethical government. It’s your town and your tax dollars.