The purpose of this chapter is to prevent solicitation and acceptance
of political contributions in and through facilities dedicated to
the discharge of official municipal business since such conduct undermines
the efficiency of government by taking officials and employees away
from the people's business and leads to the appearance of improper
influence of political contributions on government functions.
CANDIDATE
Any individual seeking election to a public office of the
federal, state, county, or municipal government, or school district
or political party.
MUNICIPAL OFFICIAL, EMPLOYEE AND APPOINTEE
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.
MUNICIPALITY
The government of the municipality, including any officer,
department, board, commission, or agency, thereof.
POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION
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.
POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
Any two (2) 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. 19:44A3 as a "political committee," "joint candidates
committee," continuing political committee," "political party committee,"
"candidate committee," or "legislative leadership committee."
PUBLIC PROPERTY
All personal property owned, leased, or controlled by the
municipal government, including but not limited to vehicles, phones,
fax machines, computers, stationery including municipal letterhead,
postage, and other office equipment.
SOLICIT
To ask for, by oral or written communication, a political
contribution as that term is defined herein.
Violation of any provision of this chapter shall be punished
by a period of community service not exceeding ninety (90) days or
imprisonment in the county jail for a term not exceeding ninety (90)
days or a fine not exceeding one thousand ($1,000) dollars.