The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Ethical Standards says that a non-profit organization run by Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini (R-Ocean Twp.) can bid on state grants. Angelini is the Executive Director of Prevention First, which deals with youth violence and substance abuse issues.
The freshman Monmouth County legislator asked the ethics panel to rule in order to obviate any potential conflict down the road. The ethics committee says Angelini's aency may receive state grants and contracts as long as they are publicly-bid, and that she must continue to seek approval of the committee.
“I was confident my work did not violate the spirit of the legislative ethics code, but good government requires leaders to subject themselves to extra scrutiny,"Angelini said. “Far too often, New Jersey has seen public officials get in trouble because they didn’t take the time to check to make sure their actions are proper. I did not want to take any chance of acting inappropriately.”
