Republican National Committeeman David Norcross knows quite a bit about the Election Law Enforcement Commission. He was on staff of Gov. William T. Cahill when the commission was created, and became its first Executive Director.
And he’s not happy that the commission’s board, meant to be bi-partisan, is currently made up of two Democrats and one Republican. The seat has been vacant since Gov. Jon Corzine named Theodore Davis as Camden’s chief operating officer in December 2006.
“It’s inexcusable,” said Norcross about the fact that the commission has gone over a year without filling its Republican vacancy. “I understand exigencies of politics. Sometimes you can’t find an appointee, sometimes you can’t get the agreement you need, but this is preposterous.”
ELEC’s voted today to postpone a ruling on whether indicted state Sen. Wayne Bryant can use campaign funds to pay for his legal defense is a prime example, he said. Democratic members Jerry English and Albert Burstein voted in favor of tabling the ruling, while Republican Peter Tober voted against it. Had another Republican been present to vote no, the motion to table might have failed.
“It can’t function as a partisan board, and frankly, they ought not to be taking votes where one party’s out of balance,” said Norcross, a former GOP State Chairman and U.S. Senate candidate. “I’m amazed that it has run this long on three wheels.”
