Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop has amended his campaign finance complaint against Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), alleging that over $300,000 in spending by her congressional campaign account should be counted against the $8.7 million cap in her bid for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
Fulop claims that Sherrill used money from her bid for re-election to a fourth term in Congress to further her statewide campaign, citing $27,100 for an event at the Hard Rock in Atlantic City during the League of Municipalities Convention two days after entering the governor’s race, and $20,000 for a statewide holiday card mailing last year.
The more significant part of Fulop’s allegations is that 90% of a $255,906 digital ad buy ten days before she announced her gubernatorial run targeted voters outside her district. He says nearly 63% of $45,800 on YouTube placement was outside of the 11th congressional district where she was running, and a majority of the $49,132 she spent on Facebook ads appeared outside her own district.
“Whether it was being dishonest about her intention to move into the district after her first election, or being dishonest about her intentions to serve in Congress in the last election, or being dishonest about intentionally circumventing New Jersey’s Campaign Finance Laws in this election, there is a clear trend with Mikie Sherrill when it comes to misrepresenting the truth and a willingness to do anything to get elected,” Fulop said. “This is the exact thing that makes voters cynical about New Jersey politicians, and the deceit is an action synonymous with the New Jersey political machine.
The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission has jurisdiction over complaints related to gubernatorial public financing matters.
Sherrill’s campaign manager, Alex Ball, pushed back on Fulop’s complaint.
“As a former federal prosecutor, Mikie Sherrill takes the law seriously. Her campaign is compliant with and cognizant of ELEC’s regulations, and she has even taken the rare step of asking the FEC for an advisory opinion to ensure full compliance with all campaign finance rules,” said Ball. “Steven Fulop’s new allegations, at best, demonstrate a lack of understanding of the law. And at worst, try to make a mockery of campaign finance laws in a blatant attempt to mislead voters. Not surprising from a corrupt, career politician in last place in the polls trying desperately to save his campaign.”
Fulop said he is seeking a full audit of contracts and expenditures from Sherrill for Congress, and wants that amount deducted from her spending camp.
“We just want a fair election, and our intent was not to drag out the details in public, but rather to just let ELEC handle it,” said Fulop spokesperson Ashley Manz. “However, when Sherrill once again misrepresented the facts last week and attacked us for calling it out, we had no choice but to take this approach. The public should see that what Mikie says and what she actually does are two very different things.”