[Adopted 11-16-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-87]
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any individual seeking election to a public office of the
federal, state, county or municipal government, or school district
or political party, and any individual who shall have been elected
or failed of election to any such office.
The government of the Township of Stafford, including any
officer, department, board, commission or agency thereof.
Any person holding elective municipal office or holding an
appointed position in the municipal government, or in any agency,
commission, board or office thereof, whether the position is full-time
or part-time, compensated or uncompensated; and any employee of municipal
government or of any municipal agency, commission, board or office
thereof, whether the position is full-time or part-time.
Any loans and transfers of money or other things of value
to any candidate, elected official or representative of any political
organization, or other commitments or assumptions of liability to
make any such transfer. Political contributions shall be deemed to
have been made upon the date when such commitment is made or liability
assumed.
Any two or more persons acting jointly, or any corporation,
partnership or other incorporated or unincorporated association which
is organized to, or does, aid or promote the nomination, election
or defeat of any candidate or candidates for federal, state, county,
municipal or school board office or political party office. Political
organization includes, but is not limited to, organizations defined
in N.J.S.A. 19:44A-3 as a "political committee," "joint candidates
committee," "continuing political committee," "political party committee,"
"candidate committee" or "legislative leadership committee."
All real or personal property owned, leased or controlled
by the Township of Stafford.
To ask for, by oral or written communication, a contribution
as defined herein.
A.
Prohibition against soliciting or accepting political
contribution in rooms or buildings occupied in the discharge of public
duties. No municipal official, employee or appointee may solicit,
commit to pay or receive payment of or a commitment to pay any political
contribution for any candidate, elected official or political organization
while in any Township room or building occupied in the discharge of
official municipal business. This section shall include solicitation
or acceptance of political contributions made over a private cell
phone or by use of a private computer if the person soliciting or
accepting the political contribution or using the cell phone or computer
for purposes of soliciting or accepting the political contribution
is in any Township room or building occupied in the discharge of official
municipal business.
B.
Prohibition against use of public property for political
fund-raising. No municipal official, employee or appointee may solicit,
commit to pay or receive payment of or a commitment to pay any political
contribution for any candidate, elected official or political organization
while utilizing public property.
C.
Exception. In the event Township public facilities
are made available to any group for nongovernmental use, this prohibition
shall not be deemed to prevent fund-raising of any sort among members
of such groups during the time such groups have reserved exclusive
use of the Township facility.
D.
Violations and penalties. Violation of any provision
of this article shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $1,250.
