An Ethical Roadmap for Monmouth County Republicans

Submitted by Adam Puharic, Chairman
Monmouth County Republican Committee
August 3, 2006
I. Compliance Council
II. Web postings of ELEC Reports
III. Compliance School
IV. A call for voluntary campaign spending limits
I. Compliance Council
The Monmouth County Republican Committee will establish an election law compliance
council to provide the county Republican Treasurer with 24-hour advice in adhering to all
campaign finance laws. The Council consists of four or more independent professionals
from legal, accounting, and public service backgrounds. Invited to serve on the Council
are Tom Gagliano, former Monmouth County State Senator, Assemblyman Bill Baroni, a
recognized election law teacher from Seton Hall University, Ron Gravino, treasurer to
many statewide elected officials.
Within 48 hours of receipt of any contribution, volunteers will notify the members of the
Council. The Compliance Council will in turn advise the Chairman and Treasurer
whether the Monmouth County Republican Committee (MCRC) should accept this
contribution. Promptly, the treasurer will then deposit or return the contribution.
In this way, the MCRC is establishing an independent authority to provide checks and
balances to our treasurer, so that all contributions are vetted, advised on, and acted upon
in an environment of transparency and inclusion.
II. Web postings of ELEC Reports
The Monmouth County Republican Committee is committed to raising campaign and
operation funds in an environment that engenders confidence, openness and transparency.
It is our contention that the Republican party is the right party for Monmouth County, and
that everyone who comes to know and understand our platform will want to contribute
towards the success of our candidates. Our contributors are volunteers who believe in the
cause, and can see the outstanding success that Monmouth County has achieved through
over two decades of Republican Leadership.
Therefore, the MCRC will begin internet postings of our regular ELEC report filings on
the web site at www.monmouthrepublican.org. We intend to establish this practice
within one week of this announcement. In addition, it is our intention to post our reports
on or before the due date for each filing.
In addition, I ask the media to consider linking to our contributor page so that readers and
viewers can have fast access to our election reports. The public can help us to maintain
the highest of ethical standards in campaigning.
I call upon Victor Scudiery and the Monmouth County Democrat Organization to follow
our lead, go beyond ELEC reporting requirements, and provide the public with easy
access to their reports
III. Compliance School
On a monthly basis, municipal chairman from across Monmouth County will be invited
to attend compliance school, at the headquarters on W. Main Street. The sessions will be
approximately one hour in length, providing our municipal leaders with a comprehensive
understanding of all campaign finance reform law, as well as best practices each town
may establish to ensure transparency and openness in the campaign process. During
these sessions, individual campaigns may bring contributions to be vetted and discussed,
so that our municipal Republican committees can be confident in the funds they receive.
IV. A call for voluntary campaign spending limits
The Monmouth County Republican Committee calls on Victor Scudiery and the
Monmouth County Democrats to limit total campaign expenditures in the 2006 county
election cycle to $75,000 per candidate, or $225,000. The Monmouth County
Republicans will abide by this limit, if our opponents will agree to the same spending
limits.
The Monmouth County Republican Committee is setting a new standard in ethical
fundraising for our election victories. I call upon municipal chairman from both parties
to move towards adopting these goals.