[Adopted 10-2-2006 by Ord. No. 1416]
This article shall be known as the "County Political Contributions and
Expenditures Ordinance."
As used in this article, unless a clearly different meaning appears
from the context, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
An individual seeking election to a public office of the Borough
or the Borough's school district at an election, except that the term shall
not include an individual seeking party office; or an individual who shall
have been elected or failed of election to an office, other than a party office,
of which he or she sought election and who receives contributions and makes
expenditures for any of the purposes authorized by N.J.S.A. 19:44A-11.2 during
the period of service in that office.
Include all loans and transfer of money or other thing of value to
or by any candidate, municipal candidate committee, political committee, or
political party committee and all pledges or other commitments or assumptions
of liability to make any such transfer; and for purposes of reports required
under the provisions of this article shall be deemed to have been made upon
the date when such commitment is made or liability assumed.
Any election for municipal office in the Borough of Collingswood,
including school board elections.
Any two or more persons acting jointly, or any corporation, partnership,
or any 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 public office.
Any county committee of a political party, as organized pursuant
to N.J.S.A. 19:5-3, or any municipal committee of a political party, as organized
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:5-2.
A.
Limitation on contributions from county political candidates
or organizations. No county political committee or county political party
committee shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value
in excess of $500 annually to a candidate or his or her municipal candidate
committee.
B.
Limitation on acceptance of contributions from county
political committee. No candidate who has established a municipal candidate
committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate
committee, shall knowingly accept from a county political committee or county
political party committee any contribution of money or other thing of value
which in the aggregate exceeds $500 annually.
Any payment by a county political committee or county political party
committee to any municipal candidate or municipal candidate committee or a
municipal political party committee in aid of or to promote the candidacy
of an individual for nomination for election or for election to municipal
public office shall be made by check, and no such payment shall be made in
currency.
The campaign treasurer of each candidate and each municipal candidate
committee shall make a full cumulative report of all contributions in the
form of moneys, loans, paid personal services or other things of value made
to him or to the deputy campaign treasurers of the municipal candidate committee
by a county political committee or county political party committee. The time
period for the report shall begin on the date of the first of those contributions,
the date of the first of those expenditures, or the date of the appointment
of the campaign treasurer, whichever occurred first, and run until the second
day preceding the date of the cumulative report. A cumulative report shall
be filed on the 29th day preceding the election; on the 11th day preceding
the election; and on the 20th day following such election. If no moneys, loans,
paid personal services or other things of value were contributed during that
period, the report shall so indicate. The report shall also contain the name
and mailing address of each person or group from whom such moneys, loans,
paid personal services or other things of value were contributed. The campaign
treasurer and the candidate or several candidates shall certify the correctness
of the report. Such report shall be filed with the Borough Clerk.
A finding of a violation of this article shall be made only upon clear
and convincing evidence. A person who violates any of its provisions shall
be liable to a penalty equal to four times the amount of the contribution
made to the recipient. (Note: Monetary penalty considered as option over disqualification
from future elections.)
