New rules for county political committees

TRENTON — County political party committees in New Jersey are operating under new rules that proponents say will bring more transparency to how the groups conduct their business. Gov. Jon Corzine signed legislation this month that requires the committees to adopt constitutions and bylaws, provide certain information on committee members and eliminate fixed terms for committee members and chairs. It also mandates that committee leaders have a continuing duty to report changes in committee membership. Municipal clerks also must now file a list of committee members with their respective county clerks within 20 days after a committee’s first meeting following the primary election. The lists would be government documents, available to the public on request. The measures (A-1904/S930) received strong bipartisan backing in both houses when they were approved in late June. Corzine signed the measure Oct. 1, calling it “another step forward in our efforts to bring more transparency and ethics to government.” It also was backed by the Citizens’ Campaign, a prominent nonprofit ethics in government advocacy group, which had a role in developing the legislation. “This is a crucial step toward more accountability and transparency at every government level,” said Linda Greenstein, D-Hamilton, who was among the bill’s primary sponsors in the Assembly. “It’s long overdue and a welcome addition to making government more open and accountable to the people.” Other primary sponsors in the Assembly were Democrats Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Gordon Johnson, both of Englewood, and Republicans Amy Handlin of Middletown and Charlotte Vandervalk of Westwood. Loretta Weinberg, D-Teaneck Corzine’s running mate in November’s gubernatorial election and Diane Allen, R-Burlington, were the primary sponsors in the Senate. “This new law goes a long way in ending the era of ‘top-down’ political party rule,” Vandervalk said. “It gives meaning to government by and for the people as it provides for increased citizen participation in the decision-making process of county political parties.” Johnson voiced similar views. “We’re simply doing what should have been done long ago — shining more light upon what can often be a key government process seldom seen by the public,” Johnson said. “This is a positive step in the right direction for all New Jerseyans.”