NIBOT FOR SENATE

Immediate Release                                                   October 19, 2007

201-362-0161            

JOHNSON’S STRONG ARM TACTICS SHOULD SPUR OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION

Called for Johnson to Step Down From Council Post

SEN. WEINBERG SILENT ON ETHICAL MATTTER

BERGENFIELD – Clara Nibot the state Senate candidate in District 37 said the state Attorney General’s office should investigate Assemblyman Gordon Johnson for allegedly strong arming Englewood employees into donating to his campaign.

Johnson, who is also an Englewood Councilman, was reprimanded by the Englewood city manager for soliciting campaign contributions on city property.  Johnson, who is participating in the state taxpayer funded Clean Elections campaign allegedly, solicited donations from uniformed police officers.

City Manager Robert Casey wrote in a letter to Johnson that “the appearance of accepting campaign contributions even in nominal amounts from uniformed police officers at a prominent city-owned site is not anyone’s advantage.”

“Given the fact that as a member of the City Council, you must approve labor contracts which directly benefit those providing contributions, your involvement in this could result in adverse publicity …”

Nibot said that Johnson should return the taxpayer money he received from the Clean Election fund and resign his post as councilman. Johnson and his runningmates are getting over $500,000 each.

“The entire notion that a person running for state office is possibly using his local office to strong arm people into donating to him is repugnant to the entire concept of what the Clean Election program is supposed to be about,” said Nibot.

Nibot said that Sen. Loretta Weinberg’s silence on the matter involving her running mate is alarming. “Where is Sen. Weinberg the reformer now?” asked Nibot. “She refused to say anything about Mr. Johnson’s dual office holding and now she is silent in the face of the reprimand Johnson has received for a serious ethical breach. What kind of reformer is she?”

“I think there is enough evidence here of wrongdoing that the state Attorney General should look into this matter,” added Nibot.  “The Clean Election program is supposed to be about Clean Elections, not dirty politics as usual.”  

Nibot said the efforts of Johnson and Weinberg to reinvent themselves as reformers is “cynical.”

“They are abusing the Clean Election program and abusing their authority,” said Nibot. “They have “made a joke of the Clean Election campaign program.”