Still nothing to report on ELEC board vacancy, governor says

Though one of two Republican seats on the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) board has been vacant for more than four years, Gov. Phil Murphy said today that he still has no current plan to fill the vacancy.

“No news to make on the open Republican seat,” the governor said. “If we do, we’ll get back to you.”

The board, which is tasked with enforcing the state’s campaign finance laws and releasing reports on political fundraising, is currently made up of two Democrats and one Republican. The lone Republican, Eric Jaso, is also the board’s chair, serving with Democrats Stephen Holden and Marguerite Simon.

The partisan imbalance of the board has not led to any great strife, as the three commissioners tend to vote unanimously, even on potentially partisan matters.

But it is notable that, despite now serving in his second term and being prodded by state Republicans to fill the vacancy, Murphy has not moved to do so. Due to other vacancies preceding this one, the board has not had its full complement of four commissioners since 2011.