Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford failed to file mayoral campaign spending reports in late 2009, but newly released records show that city employees and contractors paid into a fund that bought last-minute, get-out-the-vote efforts and funded his inaugural victory party.
Langford did not disclose more than $60,000 worth of services to his 2009 mayoral campaign account, state campaign finance records show. However, two political action committees reported spending the money on Langford’s behalf.
The PACs provided the sum in in-kind donations — services rather than direct campaign contributions — and one paid for flowers, food and piano players at the mayor’s victory party.
New data show the committees were funded by dozens of supporters who are public officials, employees or contractors, and many of them work for the city now. While PAC contributions are legal, the filings show a level of Langford support from people and firms working for the city that had not previously been known.
One of the two groups, Voters United for New Jersey, detailed in an April 15, 2010, filing how it made 17 payments toward Langford’s inaugural ball in January 2010.
The payments included $37,000 to Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort for services listed as “catering” for the event.
Citizens First, another PAC funded largely by Voters United in that reporting cycle, detailed $6,300 in payments for political consultants and campaign services.
But Langford did not file campaign finance reports showing he received those contributions, or for anything spent in the final 24 hours before the election. His last filing was in advance of the Nov. 3, 2009, election. He failed to file a post-election report, which was required within 20 days after the vote and is now 18 months late.
Langford deferred comment on the handling of campaign funds to his treasurer, Stephanie Stewart, and said he “doesn’t get involved with that.” Stewart did not return a call seeking comment.
Total contributions made to the PACs exceeded $83,000.
Contributors’ names surfaced Monday as Election Law Enforcement Commission officials scanned a donor list that had been attached to the April 2010 Voters United filing but had never been made public.
Those who helped pay for the mayor’s party included Dr. Jon Regis, of Pleasantville, who heads Reliance Medical Group LLC and who became Voters United’s highest individual donor that cycle when he gave $3,000. Reliance contracts with the city to provide medical services, including physicals for city public-safety workers.
Michael Armstrong, a city-contracted attorney, donated $2,600. Baum Zarwin, of Philadelphia, donated $2,800, and Fox Rothschild LLP’s Atlantic City office gave $2,000. Both law firms have city contracts.
Jeff Vasser, president of the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority, gave $1,000.
Two firms tied for the top donation amount of $5,000. One was Stradley Ronon Stevens Young, Langford adviser Andy Weber’s former firm. The other was Grand Technology Inc., a janitorial supply company based in Englishtown, Monmouth County, and a previous top Langford contributor.
The case provides grist to Langford’s political opponents.
The mayor last week filed to run as an independent against incumbent state Sen. Jim Whelan, D-Atlantic, who twice beat Langford in mayoral races before losing to him in 2001. Whelan faces a Republican Senate challenge from Assemblyman Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic.
In an ironic twist, Whelan was listed as having contributed $500 in two donations, including $250 from his Senate campaign.
“I bought a ticket to the gala,” Whelan said Monday night, adding he could not immediately recall details.
Polistina and his wife donated $500 combined.
Langford’s failure to file reports raises questions about the speed with which the state acts on possible violations.
ELEC Deputy Director Joe Donohue said he would not comment on any specific case. However, he said that while late filings are sometimes common, fewer than 5 percent of candidates fail to file a required disclosure outright. When those cases occur, Donohue said, progress by ELEC is sometimes slow.
“There are extenuating circumstances that can slow those cases down,” he said.
But even to get a complaint filed, Donohue said, “We have four investigators working, and 4,000 to 6,000 elections every year in New Jersey.”
No complaint has been filed against Langford.
The donor list emerged as part of the filing Monday, after ELEC staff found it had never been scanned because it was printed on legal-sized paper.
Langford said the interest in the failed disclosure was politically driven.
“It’s Whelan running scared,” he said Monday morning, repeating a line he has used since the issue was raised on a political blog.
Whelan, however, said he was not aware of the dispute over filings or the newly revealed list of names.
“I just don’t know anything about it,” he said Monday.
The filings also show patterns of political fundraising in Atlantic City, where the mayor’s close advisers do not just advise but also provide cash.
Of the two PACs, Voters United is operated by Andy Weber, and Citizens First is operated by Weber’s wife, Rita.
Contact Juliet Fletcher:
609-292-4935
JFletcher@pressofac.com
Contact Emily Previti:
609-272-7221
EPreviti@pressofac.com
Donors to Voter United of New Jersey PAC that helped fund Mayor Lorenzo Langford’s 2009 campaign and inaugural activities:
Rosemary Adams
Mayor Jim Brown (Rome, NY)
Anthony R Cox
William D Crane
Jonathon & Linda Diego
John M Eccles Jr
Terence K Flynn
Tom Foley
Stowell R. & Lena Fulton
Freeholder Charles Garrett
Zakir Hossain
Irving And Edith Jacoby
Paul Jerkins
Robert L Johnson
Joseph X Kelly
Charlie & Virene Langford
Alicia C. Marenco
Christopher Mooney
Mr. & Mrs. Alton O'Reilly
Will Pauls
Steve Reck
Jon M Regis MD
Nancy Ridgeway
Bobby Royal
Sheet Metal Workers
Linda Steele
Thomas Sykes
Bob Tarby
Jeff Vasser
Senator Jirn Whelan
Jeffrey Wilson
Baum Zarwin
Michael Armsrong
Gran Turk
M&M Financial
Steve Young
Cordish AC LLC
Riley & Riley
Gary Glass
Business & Government Insurance Agency
Schiff Enterprises
Community Baptist Church
Curtis Lackland
Atlantic City Jitney Association
STV Engineers
T6J Court Reporters
Soutn Jersey Building Trades Council
Checker Taxi Co of NJ Inc.
Stradley Ronon Stevens Young
Cheong Ming Chan
Michael Ryan
Foundation Title
Arthur Bunting
Michael Belfield
George and Pat Lynn
Lori Herndon
K&K Productions
Dominic Moffa
Donald Parker
David and Joanne Tilton
Edward Whitehead
Robin Greene
Fulvio Capone
Floyd for Assembly
TS Creations
Shipriya LLC (Trump subsidiary)
Palmer Food Services
1630 Albany Associates Inc. (unregistered with state)
Patrick D'Arcy
R S Consulting
Fox Rothschild LLP
Friends of John Schultz
Michael D'Amato
Tishman Construction Corp. of New York
Richmond & Anna McCoy
First Resorts Management Co. Inc.
Farley & Ferry Realty Inc.
Alamo Insurance Group
Boys & Girls club of AC
Cedar Motel
Barbara Camper
Greedridge Funeral Homes Inc.
Alicia Clark
Rita DeStefano
Comengo Law Group
Grand Technology Inc.
IBEW Local 351 State PAC Fund
Roofers Local 30 Action Fund (unregistered with state)
Infinite Possibilities Foundation Inc.
Atlantic City Linen Supply Co.
Steve Young
NJ State Laborers Political Action Committee
Pennoni Engineering
Whelan for Senate
Thomas Russo
Atlantic Hermatology Group
DW Smith Associates LLC
Carl Briscoe
AC Firefighters Local 198
Demaio for freeholder
Vincent & Carolyn Polistina
Shane Bargy
Beverly Foy
American Demolition Corp.
Amodeo for Assembly
Leonard Law Group
Francis Santoro
Langford did not disclose more than $60,000 worth of services to his 2009 mayoral campaign account, state campaign finance records show. However, two political action committees reported spending the money on Langford’s behalf.
The PACs provided the sum in in-kind donations — services rather than direct campaign contributions — and one paid for flowers, food and piano players at the mayor’s victory party.
New data show the committees were funded by dozens of supporters who are public officials, employees or contractors, and many of them work for the city now. While PAC contributions are legal, the filings show a level of Langford support from people and firms working for the city that had not previously been known.
One of the two groups, Voters United for New Jersey, detailed in an April 15, 2010, filing how it made 17 payments toward Langford’s inaugural ball in January 2010.
The payments included $37,000 to Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort for services listed as “catering” for the event.
Citizens First, another PAC funded largely by Voters United in that reporting cycle, detailed $6,300 in payments for political consultants and campaign services.
But Langford did not file campaign finance reports showing he received those contributions, or for anything spent in the final 24 hours before the election. His last filing was in advance of the Nov. 3, 2009, election. He failed to file a post-election report, which was required within 20 days after the vote and is now 18 months late.
Langford deferred comment on the handling of campaign funds to his treasurer, Stephanie Stewart, and said he “doesn’t get involved with that.” Stewart did not return a call seeking comment.
Total contributions made to the PACs exceeded $83,000.
Contributors’ names surfaced Monday as Election Law Enforcement Commission officials scanned a donor list that had been attached to the April 2010 Voters United filing but had never been made public.
Those who helped pay for the mayor’s party included Dr. Jon Regis, of Pleasantville, who heads Reliance Medical Group LLC and who became Voters United’s highest individual donor that cycle when he gave $3,000. Reliance contracts with the city to provide medical services, including physicals for city public-safety workers.
Michael Armstrong, a city-contracted attorney, donated $2,600. Baum Zarwin, of Philadelphia, donated $2,800, and Fox Rothschild LLP’s Atlantic City office gave $2,000. Both law firms have city contracts.
Jeff Vasser, president of the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority, gave $1,000.
Two firms tied for the top donation amount of $5,000. One was Stradley Ronon Stevens Young, Langford adviser Andy Weber’s former firm. The other was Grand Technology Inc., a janitorial supply company based in Englishtown, Monmouth County, and a previous top Langford contributor.
The case provides grist to Langford’s political opponents.
The mayor last week filed to run as an independent against incumbent state Sen. Jim Whelan, D-Atlantic, who twice beat Langford in mayoral races before losing to him in 2001. Whelan faces a Republican Senate challenge from Assemblyman Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic.
In an ironic twist, Whelan was listed as having contributed $500 in two donations, including $250 from his Senate campaign.
“I bought a ticket to the gala,” Whelan said Monday night, adding he could not immediately recall details.
Polistina and his wife donated $500 combined.
Langford’s failure to file reports raises questions about the speed with which the state acts on possible violations.
ELEC Deputy Director Joe Donohue said he would not comment on any specific case. However, he said that while late filings are sometimes common, fewer than 5 percent of candidates fail to file a required disclosure outright. When those cases occur, Donohue said, progress by ELEC is sometimes slow.
“There are extenuating circumstances that can slow those cases down,” he said.
But even to get a complaint filed, Donohue said, “We have four investigators working, and 4,000 to 6,000 elections every year in New Jersey.”
No complaint has been filed against Langford.
The donor list emerged as part of the filing Monday, after ELEC staff found it had never been scanned because it was printed on legal-sized paper.
Langford said the interest in the failed disclosure was politically driven.
“It’s Whelan running scared,” he said Monday morning, repeating a line he has used since the issue was raised on a political blog.
Whelan, however, said he was not aware of the dispute over filings or the newly revealed list of names.
“I just don’t know anything about it,” he said Monday.
The filings also show patterns of political fundraising in Atlantic City, where the mayor’s close advisers do not just advise but also provide cash.
Of the two PACs, Voters United is operated by Andy Weber, and Citizens First is operated by Weber’s wife, Rita.
Contact Juliet Fletcher:
609-292-4935
JFletcher@pressofac.com
Contact Emily Previti:
609-272-7221
EPreviti@pressofac.com
Rosemary Adams
Mayor Jim Brown (Rome, NY)
Anthony R Cox
William D Crane
Jonathon & Linda Diego
John M Eccles Jr
Terence K Flynn
Tom Foley
Stowell R. & Lena Fulton
Freeholder Charles Garrett
Zakir Hossain
Irving And Edith Jacoby
Paul Jerkins
Robert L Johnson
Joseph X Kelly
Charlie & Virene Langford
Alicia C. Marenco
Christopher Mooney
Mr. & Mrs. Alton O'Reilly
Will Pauls
Steve Reck
Jon M Regis MD
Nancy Ridgeway
Bobby Royal
Sheet Metal Workers
Linda Steele
Thomas Sykes
Bob Tarby
Jeff Vasser
Senator Jirn Whelan
Jeffrey Wilson
Baum Zarwin
Michael Armsrong
Gran Turk
M&M Financial
Steve Young
Cordish AC LLC
Riley & Riley
Gary Glass
Business & Government Insurance Agency
Schiff Enterprises
Community Baptist Church
Curtis Lackland
Atlantic City Jitney Association
STV Engineers
T6J Court Reporters
Soutn Jersey Building Trades Council
Checker Taxi Co of NJ Inc.
Stradley Ronon Stevens Young
Cheong Ming Chan
Michael Ryan
Foundation Title
Arthur Bunting
Michael Belfield
George and Pat Lynn
Lori Herndon
K&K Productions
Dominic Moffa
Donald Parker
David and Joanne Tilton
Edward Whitehead
Robin Greene
Fulvio Capone
Floyd for Assembly
TS Creations
Shipriya LLC (Trump subsidiary)
Palmer Food Services
1630 Albany Associates Inc. (unregistered with state)
Patrick D'Arcy
R S Consulting
Fox Rothschild LLP
Friends of John Schultz
Michael D'Amato
Tishman Construction Corp. of New York
Richmond & Anna McCoy
First Resorts Management Co. Inc.
Farley & Ferry Realty Inc.
Alamo Insurance Group
Boys & Girls club of AC
Cedar Motel
Barbara Camper
Greedridge Funeral Homes Inc.
Alicia Clark
Rita DeStefano
Comengo Law Group
Grand Technology Inc.
IBEW Local 351 State PAC Fund
Roofers Local 30 Action Fund (unregistered with state)
Infinite Possibilities Foundation Inc.
Atlantic City Linen Supply Co.
Steve Young
NJ State Laborers Political Action Committee
Pennoni Engineering
Whelan for Senate
Thomas Russo
Atlantic Hermatology Group
DW Smith Associates LLC
Carl Briscoe
AC Firefighters Local 198
Demaio for freeholder
Vincent & Carolyn Polistina
Shane Bargy
Beverly Foy
American Demolition Corp.
Amodeo for Assembly
Leonard Law Group
Francis Santoro
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