Diamond
10-27-2008, 10:21 AM
Prison can't keep Sharpe James out of Newark politics
by Jeffrey C. Mays/The Star-Ledger
Sunday October 26, 2008, 11:14 AM
file
Sharpe JamesFormer Newark Mayor Sharpe James reported to a prison camp in Petersburg, Va., on Sept. 15 to begin serving a 27-month sentence on federal corruption charges.
But even from a jail cell hundreds of miles away, the 72-year-old Democrat is still seeking to put his mark on the politics of the city he dominated for two decades.
Two days after James reported to jail, Central Ward Council candidate Charles Bell received a $5,000 donation to his campaign fund from James, according to campaign records filed with the State Election Law Enforcement Commission.
Bell is one of 16 candidates running in the election next month to fill the seat vacated by Dana Rone, who was forced to resign after a judge determined that a disorderly persons conviction touched on her office.
James' campaign fund has more than $1.1 million, and New Jersey law allows him to direct contributions from the account to candidates running for office - even from a jail cell.
"There are no restrictions in the law regarding whether someone is incarcerated," said Frederick Herrmann, executive director of the Election Law Enforcement Commission. "There is nothing in our law that would stop that."
According to campaign finance reports, Bell has raised a little more than $33,000 for the special election but has contributed more than $11,300 of his own money from his retirement fund, he said.
James' contribution - the largest donation Bell has received to date - makes it difficult for the candidate to counter claims by his leading challenger that Bell represents Newark's past.
Union leader Eddie Osborne, who received the endorsement of Mayor Cory Booker, has called Bell a throwback to a different era of politics in the city. Bell was the Central Ward councilman until 2006, when he was swept out of office by Rone, who ran on the Team Booker ticket.
"The only mayor's endorsement I care about is Cory Booker's," Osborne said.
Bell said he does not agree with James' conviction and has no problem accepting money from the former mayor whom he calls a "good friend" and "political prisoner."
"I'm a little disappointed Sharpe James didn't give me more money," Bell said. "He must be sitting on a million dollars he can use for political purposes. I need money and what he did was perfectly legal."
Paula Franzese, the Peter W. Rodino professor of law at Seton Hall Law School and chairman of the state Ethics Commission, said that should change.
"To the extent that the elected official has betrayed the public trust, the public would be best served by denying the privileges and prerogative of further utilization of monies related to the office," said Franzese. "The public trust can't help but feel betrayed in circumstances like these. It's a loophole that needs to be closed."
According to a recent ELEC ruling, James can't use the funds to pay his legal fees. Former state senator Wayne Bryant, currently on trial on federal corruption charges, is appealing that ruling. Herrmann said the money can be used for other political campaigns, donated to charity or returned to the donors. James also has another $92,000 from a joint candidates committee he created in 2006, according to campaign finance reports.
Bell said James has been one of the few people to promise financial assistance who has delivered. At a party for James before he reported to prison, Bell said James announced his support to the crowd.
"He made a statement that I'm going to help Charlie Bell because I believe in Charlie Bell," the candidate said.
Others who believe in Bell are also some of the same people who have clashed with Booker during his two years in office. State senator Ronald L. Rice, who lost to Booker in the 2006 election, gave $1,000. The Superior Officers Association, which has forced a reshuffling of Booker's administration by legally challenging the ability of the police director to run the department also gave $1,000. The Newark Teachers Union, James' defense attorney and former Council President Donald Bradley, one of James' strongest allies, also gave money.
"The question right now is are we going to keep moving forward or are we gonna go back," Booker said Monday at Osborne's endorsement.
Osborne, however, has taken it to another level and purchased two television spots featuring Booker that will run on the Newark cable system. In both, Booker tells voters they should elect Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and Osborne. Central Ward voters also received a glossy piece of campaign literature criticizing Charles Bell for raising taxes from a group called "They Work for Us," which is located in Washington, D.C.
"How much money did Osborne put in personally? If a man is not willing to make a personal sacrifice he's not committed," Bell said.
Osborne hasn't committed any of his own money, according to reports. He has collected $40,800 mostly from a collection of unions outside the city, a fact that Bell has seized on and criticized.
Political action committees for the Laborers Local 172 in Trenton gave $2,000 and the District council of Northern New Jersey Ironworkers gave $8,200. Unite Here, from New York City, gave $1,000. The New Jersey Laborers political action committee gave $8,200. The Morris County Democratic committee gave $100 and the Teaneck law firm of Decotis, Fitzpatrick, Cole and Wisler gave $2,300.
"Mr. Osborne's money came from the outside," Bell said. "That's why I'm talking about people who want to colonize Newark and put the city back on the plantation."
Osborne said his union works all over the state to provide jobs.
"We asked all our friends to chip in. We have a lot of friends because we help a lot of people out," said Osborne, 45. "His (Bell's) generation of politicians did their thing. It's time for retirement. We can't keep depending on the older generation."
But Bell said there's nothing wrong with older generation politicians like Sharpe James- or his money.
"I'm hoping he can find some way to give me more money," said Bell.
I hope the Central ward residents aren't as dumb and Charlie thinks they are.:rolleyes:
by Jeffrey C. Mays/The Star-Ledger
Sunday October 26, 2008, 11:14 AM
file
Sharpe JamesFormer Newark Mayor Sharpe James reported to a prison camp in Petersburg, Va., on Sept. 15 to begin serving a 27-month sentence on federal corruption charges.
But even from a jail cell hundreds of miles away, the 72-year-old Democrat is still seeking to put his mark on the politics of the city he dominated for two decades.
Two days after James reported to jail, Central Ward Council candidate Charles Bell received a $5,000 donation to his campaign fund from James, according to campaign records filed with the State Election Law Enforcement Commission.
Bell is one of 16 candidates running in the election next month to fill the seat vacated by Dana Rone, who was forced to resign after a judge determined that a disorderly persons conviction touched on her office.
James' campaign fund has more than $1.1 million, and New Jersey law allows him to direct contributions from the account to candidates running for office - even from a jail cell.
"There are no restrictions in the law regarding whether someone is incarcerated," said Frederick Herrmann, executive director of the Election Law Enforcement Commission. "There is nothing in our law that would stop that."
According to campaign finance reports, Bell has raised a little more than $33,000 for the special election but has contributed more than $11,300 of his own money from his retirement fund, he said.
James' contribution - the largest donation Bell has received to date - makes it difficult for the candidate to counter claims by his leading challenger that Bell represents Newark's past.
Union leader Eddie Osborne, who received the endorsement of Mayor Cory Booker, has called Bell a throwback to a different era of politics in the city. Bell was the Central Ward councilman until 2006, when he was swept out of office by Rone, who ran on the Team Booker ticket.
"The only mayor's endorsement I care about is Cory Booker's," Osborne said.
Bell said he does not agree with James' conviction and has no problem accepting money from the former mayor whom he calls a "good friend" and "political prisoner."
"I'm a little disappointed Sharpe James didn't give me more money," Bell said. "He must be sitting on a million dollars he can use for political purposes. I need money and what he did was perfectly legal."
Paula Franzese, the Peter W. Rodino professor of law at Seton Hall Law School and chairman of the state Ethics Commission, said that should change.
"To the extent that the elected official has betrayed the public trust, the public would be best served by denying the privileges and prerogative of further utilization of monies related to the office," said Franzese. "The public trust can't help but feel betrayed in circumstances like these. It's a loophole that needs to be closed."
According to a recent ELEC ruling, James can't use the funds to pay his legal fees. Former state senator Wayne Bryant, currently on trial on federal corruption charges, is appealing that ruling. Herrmann said the money can be used for other political campaigns, donated to charity or returned to the donors. James also has another $92,000 from a joint candidates committee he created in 2006, according to campaign finance reports.
Bell said James has been one of the few people to promise financial assistance who has delivered. At a party for James before he reported to prison, Bell said James announced his support to the crowd.
"He made a statement that I'm going to help Charlie Bell because I believe in Charlie Bell," the candidate said.
Others who believe in Bell are also some of the same people who have clashed with Booker during his two years in office. State senator Ronald L. Rice, who lost to Booker in the 2006 election, gave $1,000. The Superior Officers Association, which has forced a reshuffling of Booker's administration by legally challenging the ability of the police director to run the department also gave $1,000. The Newark Teachers Union, James' defense attorney and former Council President Donald Bradley, one of James' strongest allies, also gave money.
"The question right now is are we going to keep moving forward or are we gonna go back," Booker said Monday at Osborne's endorsement.
Osborne, however, has taken it to another level and purchased two television spots featuring Booker that will run on the Newark cable system. In both, Booker tells voters they should elect Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and Osborne. Central Ward voters also received a glossy piece of campaign literature criticizing Charles Bell for raising taxes from a group called "They Work for Us," which is located in Washington, D.C.
"How much money did Osborne put in personally? If a man is not willing to make a personal sacrifice he's not committed," Bell said.
Osborne hasn't committed any of his own money, according to reports. He has collected $40,800 mostly from a collection of unions outside the city, a fact that Bell has seized on and criticized.
Political action committees for the Laborers Local 172 in Trenton gave $2,000 and the District council of Northern New Jersey Ironworkers gave $8,200. Unite Here, from New York City, gave $1,000. The New Jersey Laborers political action committee gave $8,200. The Morris County Democratic committee gave $100 and the Teaneck law firm of Decotis, Fitzpatrick, Cole and Wisler gave $2,300.
"Mr. Osborne's money came from the outside," Bell said. "That's why I'm talking about people who want to colonize Newark and put the city back on the plantation."
Osborne said his union works all over the state to provide jobs.
"We asked all our friends to chip in. We have a lot of friends because we help a lot of people out," said Osborne, 45. "His (Bell's) generation of politicians did their thing. It's time for retirement. We can't keep depending on the older generation."
But Bell said there's nothing wrong with older generation politicians like Sharpe James- or his money.
"I'm hoping he can find some way to give me more money," said Bell.
I hope the Central ward residents aren't as dumb and Charlie thinks they are.:rolleyes: