Weinberg-Johnson-Huttle Letter to Chairman Ferriero: Question BCDO Pay-to-Play lawsuit

District 37 Legislators to Ferriero/Oury: "You have no right to take action...."

In response to BCDO attorney Dennis Oury's announcement that he is filing a lawsuit on behalf of Bergen Democrats to stop the state's pay-to-play laws, Senator Loretta Weinberg, Assemblyman Gordon M. Johnson and Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle wrote the following letter to Chairman Joseph A. Ferriero:

Joseph A. Ferriero, Chairman

Bergen County Democratic Organization

50 Main Street

Hackensack, NJ 07601

Dear Joe,

We were quite amazed to read the Charles Stile Record article, "Lawyer asks: What's wrong with pay-to-play?".

According to this article, Dennis Oury will be going to court on behalf of the Bergen County Democratic Organization to strike down the state's landmark pay-to-play legislation.

As sponsors of this "landmark legislation" and as members of the Bergen County Democratic Legislative Delegation, all of whom voted for it, we wondered if we missed the Executive Committee meeting that authorized Mr. Oury to go into court on behalf of our organization?

Again, according to the article, "Pay-to-play is a myth, manufactured by the press and government do-gooders who never ran a race for dogcatcher, let alone a costly street fight for a county freeholder seat."  As three people who have run races in primaries and general elections from our district and county-wide, and as card carrying members of the "government do-gooders", we wonder what experience Mr. Oury has in any of these areas?

We are particularly concerned about our party taking a stand on this issue without the input of our leadership and rank and file. It is bad government, bad politics and bad timing just before an election.

Mr. Oury is entitled to do anything he wishes as a private citizen. However, as the party's lawyer and Chair of its Bylaws Committee, he has no right to take action on our behalf without a full discussion.

We know that our constituents are concerned about important issues like property taxes, health care and the war in Iraq. We also know that pay-to-play adds to the increased cost of running government and our constituents know that too. For example, more than 2,000 Teaneck residents signed a petition to put a banning pay-to-play ordinance on the ballot this November. The Teaneck Council is now deciding whether to follow the leadership of their constituents.

Before this lawsuit progresses any further, we are requesting a full discussion within our party regarding this important issue.

Sincerely,

Loretta Weinberg, Senator, LD37

Gordon M. Johnson, Assemblyman, LD37

Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Assemblywoman, LD37

REAL DEMOCRATS. REALLY HELPING PEOPLE.

cc: Members of the Bergen County Democratic Organization